Ray Hodge, 91, Aberdeen, Washington, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Pacific Care Rehab Center in Hoquiam.

Ray was born Aug. 10, 1931, in Red Star, Arkansas to Hulen and Gladys Hodge where he worked the family farm.

In 1951, Ray cultivated five acres of green beans to secure his exit from Arkansas and proceeded west. He got as far as Drexel, Missouri where he met his future wife Wilma “Jean” Hatch on a blind date. The happy couple got married April 20, 1952.

With no more than $500 between them, they loaded up the 1949 Buick and headed for Oregon.

Ray worked at various plywood plants while in Oregon and added three sons along the way: Mark, Keith and Kevin.

The family moved to Aberdeen, Washington in 1969 where Ray started working for Weyerhaueser at the Cosmopolis plant. He worked there 25 years.

Ray was very active in Amazing Grace Lutheran Church. Ray had a habit of staying busy and was a member of several organizations over the years: The Aberdeen Lions, Aberdeen Elks, Boy Scouts, WPPW Local 1211 and the true love of his life was when he worked with Habitat for Humanity, building 13 houses on the Harbor.

Ray loved to hunt and fish except for the time he did upholstering for charter boat seats and got so many free charter trips, he got sick of salmon.

Ray’s upholstery business started with a mail order course back in 1967 and the number of chairs, sofas he did was amazing.

Ray loved his shop and put together many projects over the years. One of Ray’s favorite hobbies was helping others in need, and he did it all the time.

Ray is preceded in death by his brothers Wayne, Everett, Dick and Junior; and two sons, Mark and Kevin.

Ray is survived by his wife of 71-years Jean, son Keith, grandkids; Christopher, David, Troy and Emma and great-granddaughter Nova.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.