Obituary For Ralph C. "Forty" Hodges



Ralph C. "Forty" Hodges, formally of 1423 Carolina Ave., Eden, and recently of Carolina House in Reidsville, died December 5, 2011 at Hospice House in Wentworth. Funeral will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Fair Funeral Home Chapel with visitation from 11:30-1:00 prior to the service . Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Ralph was born in Draper (Eden) on January 11, 1927 to Charles Leonard (CL) and Lillie Layman Hodges. He served in the US Army from 1946-1949 serving in Europe. He attended National Business College in Roanoke, VA. , worked as an insurance salesman in Ohio and then as Financial Office Manager of Draper Lumber Company from which he retired. In his spare time, he coached sports at the Draper YMCA and was a lifetime member of the American Legion being affiliated with Post 254 in Eden. He was affiliated with the First United Methodist Church in Eden. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Mildred H. Martin and Geneva H. Underwood; brother, Benton Hodges; nephew, Charles E. Martin. Surviving family include sister, June H. Whitlow; nieces and nephews, Carolyn and Jeff Dunovant, Michael and Carolyn Whitlow, Dennis and Melony Martin, Glenn and Jane Martin, Rachel W. Martin; Great nieces and Great Nephews, Dawn, Kevin, and Mark Dunovant, Michelle and Christina Whitlow, Bryan, Adam, Wesley, and William Martin, and Elizabeth Martin Gates; Special Friends, Ms. Wayne Howell, Keith, Randy, Chase, Nicole, and Leah Howell. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Carolina House for their loving care and concern for Ralph over the past 4 years. Also, thanks to the staff of the emergency room and the third floor staff of Annie Penn Hospital for their care. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375 or The Alzheimer‚Äö?Ñ??s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com