Charles Richard Hodges

Charles Richard Hodges

Nov. 27, 1931 - August 22, 2019 Charles (Charlie) Richard Hodges was born November 27, 1931 in Beeville, Texas. He was the son of Alvis Glenn and Maggie Mae Redd Hodges. Charlie was raised in the Dickinson, Texas area, and graduated from Webster Senior High School. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Korea for one year during the war. In Korea, his duty was serving as a military policeman with a guard dog. In 1954, four days after receiving his discharge from service, at 24, Charlie went to Huntsville and enrolled at Sam Houston State Teachers College and attended on the GI Bill for Veterans. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in Sociology.

While at Sam Houston, Charlie founded the DONS Men’s Social Club which later received the 120th Alpha Tau Omega Charter, and became the Texas Zeta Mu Chapter of ATO. The organization’s motto was “Brotherhood with Love and Respect Can Conquer All.” Charlie lived this motto the remainder of his life.

In 1961, Charlie met and married Barbara Jean Kilpper. Charlie and Barbara began their married life in Houston, Texas. They had three children together. And enjoyed a loving marriage that lasted 57 years.

To anyone who ever met Charlie, it comes as no surprise that he spent his career in sales. After college, Charlie worked as a salesman for The Pillsbury Company and Pensalt Chemical Company. Later, Charlie opened his own real estate business, Landman Realty, in Tomball, Texas. When Charlie moved his family to Kerrville in 1979, he specialized in land development. Among his many projects there, he designed and developed, on the Guadalupe River, an RV park which he owned and managed. Shortly before retirement, he operated an Antique Store in Athens, Texas on the way to Canton. Charlie and Barbara retired to Sandia, Texas in 2006 to live on property which had been in the Hodges family since the 1930’s. And in Sandia, Charlie set up shop again to sell merchandise and the produce he, himself, grew.

Charlie was a member of West Shore Baptist Church. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, sports of all kinds, playing dominoes and cards, telling his stories, and making people laugh with his wonderful sense of humor. He never met a stranger and endeared himself to everyone who knew him. He was a man of honor and treated everyone with respect and appreciation.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents and brothers, Samuel Glenn Hodges, Robert Lee Hodges, and Ray Patrick Hodges.

Charlie dearly loved his family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hodges; daughters, Debra Coffey and Melissa Hillesland (Kent); and son, Charles Robert Hodges; granddaughters, Carylea Coffey, Katie Hodges, Maggie Coffey, Lyndsey Hodges, Megan Hodges, and Lauren Hillesland; grandsons, Brandt Coffey and Isaac Hillesland.

A special “THANK YOU” to Beth Hartman, Melissa Salaiz, Laurel Rios, Isabel Rivera, Blanca Cano, Elva Johnson, Gloria Guerra, Kathy Leal, and the other AMAZING staff of Palma Real Transitional Care Center for their loving care of our precious Dad. Also the family would like to thank John, Debbie, and Kim from Christus Spohn Hospice.

Donations and memorials in lieu of flowers can be sent to West Shore Baptist Church, FM 534, Sandia, Texas 78383.

Funeral services will be held at Dobie Funeral Home in Mathis, Texas at 10 am, Tuesday, August 27, with the Reverends Joe Smith and Michael Colten officiating. Visitation will be held at Dobie on Monday, August 26, from 5 - 7 pm.