Obituary for Martha Hodges

A celebration of life for Martha Hodges, 86, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at St. John's of the Wilderness Episcopal Church in Glenbrook.

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. today at Walton's Chapel of the Valley.

Mrs. Hodges died March 9, 2002. She was born in 1916 in New Albany, Miss., one of seven children.

She graduated from Mississippi College for Women in 1936 with a degree in secretarial science.

Mrs. Hodges was one of the first five officers of the Women's Army Corps to be deployed overseas and survived the sinking of her transport ship, the Strath Allen. She served in the North African Campaign on General Patton's staff and on General Eisenhower's staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in the European Theater during World War II. For her heroic and meritorious service, she received the Bronze Star and the Order of the British Empire, attaining the rank of major and remaining in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1956.

She married Henry Hodges in 1954 and moved to Carson City where she was instrumental in founding Hodges Transportation and the Nevada Automotive Test Center. She ensured the successful operation of those companies out of the old Virginia and Truckee Railroad Roundhouse.

She moved to the Break-a-heart Ranch near Silver Springs in the early 1970s.

She supported the advancement of many educational organizations and received visitors from all around the world.

She received many accolades for her support efforts to the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command.

Among her survivors are her husband Henry; children Dorothy of Cleveland, Ohio and Henry Jr. of Carson City; six grandchildren and three brothers and sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bishop Monague High School, 400 Bartlett St., Reno, NV 89512 or to St. Clare SCENE Fund, 5659 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124, or to a favorite educational charity.

Walton's Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.