George Joseph Hodder 1922-2015
WESTFIELD: On the evening of September 5, 2015, George “Joe” Joseph Hodder (1922-2015) died peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by family and friends in Westfield, MA. He was 93 years old, having been born August 27, 1922 in Oakland, CA. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary (Brendza), his mother and father, a brother John, killed during World War II, and a sister Jane (Heard), a son Nicholas, and a daughter Patricia. He is survived by a son Anthony of Cupertino, CA and his wife Darci, a daughter Petra Rasor of Southington, CT, a goddaughter Johanna Jenkins of Orlando, FL, and twenty three grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He also leaves numerous relatives scattered across the United States, Argentina and Lithuania; which he helped bind together.
Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the beginning of WWII, serving through the war in the European theater, as well as the entire Western Hemisphere. He served in many aircraft, but primarily the B-17, doing aerial recon during and following WWII. He was involved in many programs that remain secret to this day. He was released from active duty in 1946, and recalled to service at the start of the Korean conflict, and continued a more than 24 year career in recon. He had the opportunity to fly in many aircraft during his career, and his last crew assignment was in the RB-50. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in late 1966 as a Senior Master Sergeant, Reg. USAF. In addition to his military service, Joe worked for IBM in New York and ESL in California, from which he retired in 1987. In 1988, Joe moved back to Massachusetts so his wife Mary could be near her family.
Joe was known not just for his love of family, but also music, particularly opera, and ballet. He introduced numerous friends and family members to these interests by inviting them to join him at a performance. He was also known for his sense of humor and the pranks he liked to play. His love of flying continued after he left the service, and he earned a private pilot’s license so he could continue flying. Many friends and family remember being taken on trips with him from Moffet Naval Air Station while he still lived in California. All agreed he was one of the best people they had the privilege to know.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 17,at 10 AM at the Veterans’ Cemetery in Agawam. The Robert E Cusack Funeral Home, Westfield, is assisting the family with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the MARY BRENDZA MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT, which he established in memory of his wife, at the Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 392, Westfield, MA 01086.
