Robert Junior Hodges, 91, Bethany, MO, departed his earthly life and went to his eternal life with the Lord at Cameron VA Home, Cameron, MO on October 14, 2020.
He was born to Robert Fern and Etta (Lewis) Hodges on May 6, 1929 in Worthington, Missouri. He was raised on the farm in Martinstown, attended Martinstown Country School and in the last year of school, he went to Unionville High School where he graduated.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord when he was 17 years old, with his father following him to the altar as he also accepted the Lord.
Bob went on to Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville. He taught at Clark Country School until he was drafted in the United States Army. After basic training at Camp Roberts in California, he returned to Unionville to marry Betty Galloway. He finished his tour at Camp Roberts and they went back to Kirksville. To this union, four children were born: Gayla, Kristen, and twin boys, Timothy and Thomas. The family lived in Kansas City, Puerto Rico, Cameron, Unionville, Brookfield, Lost Nation Iowa, Sikeston, and New Florence. Through the years he worked various administrative, managerial, and teaching positions. When he was administrator at the hospital in Unionville, they decided to build a nursing home and Bob was its first administrator.
In 1982, Bob’s wife, Betty, passed away.
In 1992, Bob moved to Bethany to take on administration at Bethany Care Center. In April, 1993, he met a lady in Bethany, Carol (Hillyard) Provance, and married her on April 6, 1996, adding another son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter to his family. In 1999, Bob retired from Bethany Care Center to spend more time with his family and his hobbies. He was involved in Gideons International, Kiwanis, his church, Lion’s Club, and Rotary.
Bob loved his animals that God created – his special dogs, Benny, Molly, and Rosie; his cats, Kitty Moon, Lincoln, and Precious. A special bottle calf, also named Benny, followed him around like a pet. He could go out in the pasture and holler, “Benny,” and he would come! He loved birds and his hummingbirds especially.
He became a great man of faith, as he journeyed through life with Jesus.
He loved his church family and the children of the church. Bob went on mission trips to Alaska, New Mexico and several times to Show-Me Christian Home near Sedalia.
Bob and Carol went camping with friends. He loved to cook ham and beans and fried potatoes for them. He loved to listen to their stories and the jokes they played on each other. And they were always picking on each other!
Bob and Carol also loved going on antiquing trips and traveling with his girls. In the last few years, the girls took him back to Puerto Rico to try and find where they lived, the school Gayla went to and the hotel they stayed in for a while until they got a house. And on an East Coast trip they took him back to South Carolina to find the graves of his ancestors. He really enjoyed his last long trip to see The Ark and the God Creation Museum in Kentucky with Phyllis and Robert.
He loved his families – the Hodges, Galloways, Hillyards, and Provances. His prayer was for all his family and friends to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to believe in all of His blessings.
Everyone at the Veterans Home was always saying that Bob was a good man. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed.” Psalm 37:23-26 (NKJV) He was a good father, husband, grandfather, and friend.
Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Vanetta Hodges; parents, Fern and Etta Hodges; wife, Betty Hodges, and son, Thomas Cameron Hodges.
Bob is survived by his wife, Carol, of the home; daughters, Gayla (Brian) Bruner, Houston, TX, Kristen (Don) Druckenbrodt, Dallas, TX; son, Timothy (Barb) Hodges, Unionville, MO; daughter-in-law, Kelly Hodges, Olathe, KS; step-son, Bruce (Cynthia) Provance, Bethany, MO; grandchildren, Amanda (Brett) Orr, Ashley (Matt) Lee, Kyle (Cathy) Hodges, Lisa (Clint) Stobbe, Sydney (Greg) Bowman; and great grandchildren, Avery, Finley, Graham, Reagan, Savannah, Riley, and Boston.
Funeral Services with Military Rites will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 20 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, MO. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home where social distancing will be observed and masks are recommended. Memorials may be made to Cameron VA Home and/or Gideons International in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com