Frank Hodges

"Poppa" Frank Hodges was born on November 3, 1931, in Gonzales, Texas, to B. F. and Ruby Hodges. The oldest of five children, he grew up in Breckenridge in Stephens County. In 1948, he went to work for Harry Newton, a Texas bridge contractor, on a job on Highway 82 in Red River County, where he met his future bride, June Freeman. When work took him back to Stephens County, he said he "wore out a car" going back and forth to Paris, Texas to see June, whom he married in April 1949. As a young man, Frank worked for Harry Newton until Harry's untimely death. He then worked for Zack Burkett Co., ultimately becoming an associate in the company. In 1982, while living in Omaha in Northeast Texas, Frank started Hodges and Son Construction, investing his strong work ethic and lifelong knowledge of the industry in the company he would turn over to his son in 2000. In 2013, in recognition of his contributions to the industry, he was awarded a lifetime membership in the Texas Association of General Contractors. When June died in October 2010, Frank and she had been married more than 61 years and had reared five children. They have 18 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Frank was actively involved in the Naples Church of Christ, where he served as an elder for many years. At the age of 75, he went on his first ever mission trip to Catacamas, Honduras and developed a love for the people there, traveling throughout the state of Olancho several times a year, teaching and sharing the love of God. Affectionately known as "Poppa Frank", he helped establish a number of churches, provided educational scholarships and humanitarian aid, and began a food ministry among the poorest of the poor. Frank is survived by children Yvonne (Artie) Erwin of Texarkana, Ramona Hodges, Connie (Darrell) Green and Damon (Donna) Hodges, all of Omaha; 18 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren; brother Talmage (Irene) Hodges of Orchard, TX, sisters Nina (Norman) Barth of Omaha and Marilyn (Leonard) Hawkins of Nederland, TX; and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, June, daughter Vicki Johnson, parents, and brother, Joe E. Hodges. Frank's family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, September 26, 2016 at the Naples Church of Christ. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at the Naples Church of Christ with Phillip Kelley, Mac Jones and Jonathan Whitaker officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Honduras Mission Fund c/o Naples Church of Christ, P. O. Box 710, Naples, TX 75568.