Joe Hodge Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joe Edward Hodge, 83, of Newark, Ohio passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at the Heath Nursing Care Center surrounded by his wife, son and future daughter-in-law. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova, WV. with Pastor John McSweeny officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Valley Memory Gardens in Huntington, WV. Joe was born August 5, 1932 in Fort Gay, W.Va., a son of the late Arnold and Blanche Wellman Hodge. He was a 1950 graduate of Ceredo-Kenova (CK) High School. Three years after graduating, Joe was drafted into the US Army and spent two years serving his country during the Korean War. After receiving an honorable discharge from active duty in 1955, he enrolled at Marshall University, where he would eventually graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. Joe would begin a career with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, which took him to many different employment destinations in the next several years. While working in St. Mary’s, Ohio for Goodyear, he was given an opportunity in 1969 to come to Newark, Ohio, along with his partner and friend, Richard (Dick) Crowe and a third associate, to open their own store, which would become Newark Tire Center. Joe and Dick would become sole owners of Newark Tire Center, and they ran a very successful business for 20 years from 1969 to 1989. Joe spent may years coaching little league baseball, helping coach Babe Ruth baseball, and never missed a game his son played whether it was baseball, basketball, or tennis. During his retirement years, he tremendously enjoyed playing golf with his son, watching OSU football and basketball, Cincinnati Reds and Bengals games, eating out with his family, and annual summer trips to Myrtle Beach. Joe was a member of the American Legion Post 93 in Kenova, WV. whose Honor Guard members will conduct military graveside rites. Besides his parents he was also preceded in death by sisters Joyce Hodge, and Carole Ann Heck (Franklin D. Heck) and brothers, Phillip Hodge and Larry D. Hodge (Brenda Hodge). Surviving is his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Margaret (Bocook) Hodge, whom he married June 26, 1959; son Brian A. Hodge of Newark, Ohio, future daughter-in-law, Tina (Puccetti) Brenner, and many nieces and nephews. Joe loved his wife ‘Marg’ very dearly, and a man could never love a son any more than he loved his son, Brian. Friends may call from 1-2 P.M. Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova, WV. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.