John Hodge

U.S. Army Ret. Sgt. First Class John Thomas Hodge Sr., 75, of Leavenworth, entered into rest Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008.
He was born on Nov. 20, 1932, in Bean Station, Tenn., the son of Gid and Fannie (Spires) Hodge.
He entered the United States Army in 1951. He was a veteran of both the Korean (1951-1952) and Vietnam (1969-1970) wars. He also served in Germany from 1956 to 1960. He supervised the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks car wash, farm and also worked in various other sections of the prison at Fort Leavenworth for 22 years. He was awarded many medals, including the Army Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal (10LC) RVN Gall Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Merit United Commendation, RVN Camp Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, eight Good Conduct Medals, 2nd Korean Winter, Korea Summer-Fall 52, Vietnam Summer-Fall 69, Sanctuary Counteroff, Vietnam Counteroff PVII, Vietnam Spring 69. He retired in 1976 after serving for 26 and one-half years. After retirement, he worked in civil service in the department of entomology at Fort Leavenworth until he retired again in 1996. He will be remembered for his service to his country, which he was extremely proud of.
He was a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans organizations.
While he was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, he met Ruth Marie Zobel (LHS Class of 1953) at the old roller skating rink on Shawnee Street. They were married on April 11, 1953, at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church.
His main hobby was working and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly, and will be greatly missed by them. He loved his family, Tennessee, mushroom hunting, fixing things and taking meticulous care of his home.
John was a member of the Riverview Missionary Baptist Church in Bean Station, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clyde; two nephews; and his mother and father in-law, John and Ruth Zobel.
John is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Ruth; his daughters, Patricia (Randy) Asher of Leavenworth and Brenda (Mark) Little of Leavenworth; his sons, John (Cindy) Hodge Jr. of Terre Haute, Ind., Mike Hodge of Leavenworth and Darrell (Cindy) Hodge of Meridian, Idaho; his grandchildren, Jeffrey Asher, Megan (James) Vanek, Raechel Little, Dusty Little, Derek Hodge, Zachary Hodge, Sarah Sweet, Krissi (Greg) Dillion, John Hodge III, Brent Hodge, Kellen Hodge, Mike Hodge Jr. and Brittany Sweet; his great-grandchildren, Haylee, Jaden and Jillian Vanek, Callista and Carson Dillion, Brody Asher, Keagan O'Brien and Joshua Hodge; his siblings, Dolice (Carolyn) Hodge, Marie Bibbins and Grace Johnson, all of Bean Station, Tenn.; and several loved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, at the funeral home. The Rev. Randy Hodge (nephew) of Bean Station, Tenn., will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Riverview Missionary Baptist Church, Lakeshore Drive in Bean Station, TN 37708, or American Diabetes Association or American Liver Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leintzfh.com/.