Kenneth Eugene Hodges

Kenneth Eugene Hodges, 93, most recently of Searcy passed away Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Kenneth was born August 16, 1925, in Denmark, Arkansas to Clyde and Ethel Hodges. As a young farmer in Denmark, he entered the U.S. Army in 1944. He served in the 1st Cavalry and fought in Leyte Island Philippines Campaign and the Luzon Island Philippines Campaign of WWII. He was wounded in action during the Luzon Campaign, for which he received the Purple Heart. Sergeant Hodges, with the 2nd Squadron Seventh Cavalry, was in the guard and ceremonial squadron for General Douglas MacArthur at the raising of the first United States Flag in Tokyo since the outbreak of WWII. He left the Army at the rank of Staff Sergeant with several awards including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56 years Geneva McAdams Hodges, his granddaughter, Robin D. Hodges; brothers Raymond, Vernon, and Dean; his recent wife of three years, Donna Peters Hodges. Survivors include his children, Johnny Hodges and wife Mary of Bald Knob, Shirley Smith and husband George of Mountain View, Beverly Newman and husband Jim of Searcy; grandchildren, Tammy Smith, Toni Peery, Melissa Buckwalter and Jason Newman; great-grandchildren, Zach Cross, Matt Cross, Addison Buckwalter, Barrett Buckwalter and Campbell Buckwalter; great-great-grandchildren, Gavin, Jayden, Brendon, Cadance and Ashlyn; one sister Oleta Free of Newport; and many relatives and friends. Kenneth loved family and worked very hard through the years to provide for his family. He will be greatly missed by all of us. A special thanks to Jan and Mel Hill for their loving care of our Dad during his final weeks. Services will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, December 15 at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel in Searcy with visitation to begin at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Home Bald Knob-Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net.