More detail on this person: Robert C. "Robbie"
Hodge, March 24, 1945 - September 26, 2004
Often honored for his work for the disabled,
Robert Clifton "Robbie" Hodge will be remembered
for his abilities, his selfless spirit, his keen
wit and his terrific laughter.
Hodge died in Florence, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004,
following a lengthy illness. He was 59 years old.
Born in Manning, he was the son of Clifton Hodge
and the late Ruby Geddings Hodge. He was a
retired disabled United States Army veteran of the
Vietnam War.
Highly decorated, he was the recipient of the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star medal,
the Vietnam Service medal, the Army
Commendation medal and the Army's Aviator
Wings.
He was twice named Disabled Veteran of the Year
for the State of South Carolina and was a member
of the Daedalians Fraternal Organization of
Military Pilots.
He was a former insurance agent with Goldsmith
Insurance and served on the Clarendon County
Council from 1982 to 1988.
Senator John Land remembered Hodge from their
childhoods.
Robbie was a very fine gentleman, he served his
country and served faithfully as a member of the
County Council. He did an excellent job on council
and worked hard for the people of the county. I
always admired Robbie because he enjoyed life to
the fullest and never let his handicap get in his
way.
Tommy Gales was Hodge's co-worker in the
insurance business.
"Robbie and I worked together for six years here
at Goldsmith and then he went into business for
himself," Gales said. "After he went into business
for himself, we always stayed in touch because we
were both big Clemson Tiger fans. He loved those
Tigers and when he could, he'd be sitting in Death
Valley cheering them on. I remember I gave Robbie
a golf cart to help him get around but Robbie
really didn't need it because he could do most
anything he wanted to."
Woody Nesbitt was a lifelong friend of Robbie
Hodge.
"Robbie and I go back when we were both
teenagers," Nesbitt said. "I was an Army
helicopter pilot and he came to visit me, saw what
I was doing and the next thing I knew he enlisted
and enrolled in pilot's school. He was twice named
Disable Veteran of the Year in the late 1970s. He
was awarded many metals and awards for his time
in the service. He was a good friend, he lived
life the way he wanted to live it and you've got
to respect that. The one thing I just recently
found out was, he was a qualified scuba diver,
which shows he did what he wanted to do no matter
what the circumstances were."
Surviving besides his father of Alcolu are two
sons, Rob (Leslie) Hodge of Hickory, N.C. and
Badge (Laura) Baker of Florence; a sister, Barbara
(Jim) Walker of Surfside Beach; two daughters,
Mitzi (Bryant) Boyce of Florence and Lynn Dickson
of Manning; five grandchildren and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Shirer
Hodge.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday at
Clarendon Baptist Church in Alcolu. The Rev.
William J. Holmes officiated, assisted by the Rev.
Kirk Carlyle.
Burial with full military honors followed in the
Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery in
Alcolu.
Memorials may be made to Free Will Baptist Home
for Children, P.O. Box 229, Turbeville, S.C. 29169
or to Camp Happy Days, c/o Happy Days and
Special Times, 622 Ashley Hall Road, Charleston,
S.C. 29407.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning
was in charge of the arrangements.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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