Helen Louise Hodges at the age of 85 passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at her home in Kerrville, Texas. She was born on October 10, 1923 in Brocton, New York to Guy and Edna Graham. Helen was the youngest of nine brothers and sisters and frequently was forgotten in the rush of things surrounding a family of 11. The family had a saying that every time her dad put his pants on the bedpost, a new baby came nine months later. Despite the neglect, Helen excelled and was a straight-A-student, cheerleader and student government president. She met her future betrothed when she was just 6 years old and began dating Leonard Carl Hodges in 1939 when she was 16. At 5 foot tall, Helen had an indomitable spirit that made her seem as tall as Len. They married in May of 1942, and theirs was a lifelong partnership of love, humor and only some aggravation. They had two much loved children, James Carl and Kathleen Mae, and for many years lived around the world with the U.S. Air Force. Helen never loved living in far off places, though she always took the changes in stride, so she and Len came to Texas in 1969 to be near grandkids, and retired to Ingram in 1984. She was always a strong, independent spirit who at every turn bravely fought the cancer that would b e with her for 16 years. She never complained. The cancer won, and she left the life on a sunny and windy day that she would have loved to have seen. Helen said in the end that, "It's difficult to come into the world, but it is much harder to leave". We now know how hard it is to lose her. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings and a great grandson.
Helen is survived by her loving husband of 69 years Leonard Hodges of Ingram; 2 children Kathy and her husband Hoyt Whidbee and Jim Hodges and wife Linda; 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and many other family members and friends who love her will miss her.
The family would like to express deep admiration and love for the caregivers who have taken such excellent care of our Nanny. Elvira Ramirez, Jamie Morales, Gloria Jackson and the nurses at Peterson Hospice treated Helen and the family with the utmost respect and care, making it possible for her to pass away in her own home with the love of her life and her family surrounding her. Our gratitude is immense and can never be adequately expressed in words.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Peterson Hospice at Peterson Regional Medical Center, 551 Hill Country Dr. Kerrville, TX. 78028.
