William E. Hodges VIRGINIA BEACH - William Edward Hodges, born 79 years ago in
Scotland Neck, N.C., died March 13, 2008, in the arms of his loving wife of 46
years, Clara Cordon Hodges. Bill served 30 years in the Navy, retiring as a chief
petty officer in 1984 after serving tours on the USS Valley Forge, USS Duxbury
Bay, USS Randolph, USS Manley, and USS Piedmont and in Londonderry, Northern Ireland,
Edzell, Scotland, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Fla., Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Bill continued to serve his shipmates by managing the enlisted clubs at NAS Oceana,
winning four stars for the clubs in 1991. Bill was predeceased by his parents,
Floyd and Rena Hodges; his sisters, Janet Carter, Ann Hodges, Sylvia Parker and
Judy Allsbrook; and his daughter, Patricia Ann Gallagher. Bill is survived by
his loving wife; his son, William E. Hodges Jr. and his wife Karin; his daughter,
Robbie Sue Orick; son-in-law, James Gallagher; his grandsons, Arlo Baker, Gabriel
Baker, David Wayne Orick and Daren Hodges; his granddaughter, Morgan Hodges; his
great- granddaughters, Cassie Akers and Autumn Marie Orick; and his brothers,
Robert F. Hodges and Neil H. Hodges; and his sister, Geraldine Staton. He will
live on in the memories of all of his friends too numerous to name; Bill loved
everyone and everyone loved him. He was active in the Kempsville Church of Christ,
Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member
of the Beach Tones for 12 years. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Kempsville
Church of Christ, 5424 Parliament Drive, Virginia Beach, with minister Randy Childress
officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. in Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans
Cemetery in Suffolk. The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at
Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5792 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers,
the family would value contributions to the Disabled American Veterans. Condolences
may be offered to the family at www.altmeyer.com.