Obituary of Willard Hodge

LEXINGTON—On February 25, 2012, Willard Hodge left the loving arms of his family and went to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. Funeral services for Willard Hodge, 78, of Lexington will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Officiating will be Rev. Richard Wilson. Burial will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012 at the funeral home. Mr. Hodge was an active member of Oakwood Baptist Church. He had several years of perfect attendance in Sunday School. For 36 years, he was a member of First Church of God on Covenant Road in Columbia. He dedicated his time to serve as a Scout Master of a troop that had 8 Eagle Scouts and to help others he went on a mission trip to Haiti. He loved his Gamecocks and saw America while traveling with the team. He visited Hawaii, Miami, Notre Dame, Nebraska and many other places. Mr. Hodge retired after 31 years of devoted service from Air Liquide Welding Supply formerly Liquide Air. He was born in Manning, SC on July 1, 1933. His family is his loving wife of 58 years, Nellie; daughters, Rachel and Edith; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Deborah and grandchildren, Richard and Ashley with her husband Charlie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the America Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210 or Oakwood Baptist Church Building Fund, 3520 Mineral Springs Road, Lexington, SC 29073 or HSPCA (Humane Society), 121 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209.