Horace W. “Roy” Hodges Jr. of Virginia Beach, passed away Feb. 13, 2017 at the age of 90.

Roy was born in Mathews County to the late H.W. Hodges Sr. and Lucy Payne Hodges.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Wanda Bacher; sons, Mark Sr., Kenneth, Art, Horace III, and six grandchildren.

Roy was part of the Greatest Generation, and served his country in the Merchant Marine during WWII, was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a long-standing member of the Mathews County American Legion. Roy graduated from Maury in 1946 and had a distinguished 35-year career with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company.

Roy’s father, Captain Willie Hodges from Mathews County, was part of the only known family to have six licensed ship captains in the same family. Their war efforts were recognized by the writer, William Geroux, in his book “The Mathews Men,” published this past year by Viking Press.

Roy enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons and friends his entire life, socialization was always more important than the catch or the kill. He was a great country cook and loved to serve meals to his family and friends. In addition, he was a jack-of-all-trades, he bought and resold property in his beloved Mathews County. He was helpful to friends and strangers alike, but family was the most important part of his life! He will be forever missed.