Viola Hodges

VIOLA PEARL HODGES

Viola Pearl Hodges, age 98, of Canton, MO, died Thursday, July 17, 2008, in Blessing Hospital, Quincy, IL.

She was born October 17, 1909 at Colusa, IL, a daughter of John Franklin and Florence Elizabeth Glassburn Goff.

She married Virgil V. Hodges on April 16, 1938, at Moberly, MO. He preceded her in death on January 6, 1996. Early in their married life they ran outdoor movies with a circuit up and down the east coast as well as in this area. They farmed in Clark County for approximately ten years before moving to Canton where they operated several small businesses.

Survivors include two sons, Vernon Leon Hodges and his wife, Marilyn, of Big Sandy, TN, and Francis Goff Hodges and his wife, Teresa, of St. Peters, MO; one daughter, Helen St. Clair and her husband, Robert, of Luray, MO; seven grandchildren: Gil Hodges of Sacramento, CA, Teresa Nichols of Keokuk, IA, Laura Townsley of Okmulgee, OK, Matthew Hodges of Lexington, MA, Denise Gregorcyk of Luray, MO, Michael St. Clair of Luray, MO, and,

Jonathan St. Clair of Fayetteville, NC; twenty-two great grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Jessie Hodges of Keokuk, IA and Eoleen Hodges of Salem, IA; as well as other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Raymond and Ernest Goff; and, three sisters, Velma Harvey, Elsie Goff, and Goldie Goff.

Viola graduated from Kahoka High School and later received her B.S. from Kirksville. She was a retired elementary and head start teacher. She taught her early years in Clark County, a short time in Iowa, later returning to teach in rural Clark and Lewis Counties. She was one of the original one-room school teachers, riding her horse to school where she fired up the stove daily and sometimes cooked lunch for her students with a variety of ingredients provided by herself and what the students brought from home. She loved her students and was known for her art work which decorated her classrooms. She was so effective and well thought of as a teacher that some students contacted her even after fifty years to thank her and maintained life-long relationships. Following her retirement after 39 years of teaching, she taught G.E.D. classes in Keokuk.

Viola was in fellowship with Jehovah Witness in their Canton congregation as long as her health permitted. She was talented as an artist and enjoyed ceramics, crocheting and quilting. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother whose love and faith reached out to them and others.

A Celebration of life was held Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 3 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with Frank Dohman officiating.

Burial was in the Kahoka Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.