Wesley Dean Hodge

On January 12, 1956, Wesley Dean Hodge (Wes) was born in Lynwood, California, at St. Francis Hospital. He joined his parents, Charles and Janette; his 3 year old sister, Cathy; and his 2 year old brother, Chuck.

He attended grade school in Orange, California before moving to Vancouver, Washington in 1968. The family moved from Vancouver to the Orient area near Gresham, and then to West Linn.

During his childhood, Wes enjoyed participating in the Boy Scouts of America and was an enthusiastic and skilled Little League player.

As a young man, Wes joined the Marine Corp and thrived as a specialist in Explosives and Demolition. He continued as a reservist for six years.

Throughout his life, Wes had a wonderful sense of adventure and pursued many activities, hobbies and sports. Among them were: Hunting for bear and deer, fishing, panning for gold, and bow-hunting. Wes was a born mountain man, woodsman and nature-lover. He sometimes went deep into the woods and spent several weeks simply enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.

As a teenager Wes started working in his father’s transmission shop and became an expert at transmission repair. He remained there for approximately thirty years, until he became too ill to work.

For approximately 12 years, Wes battled Leukemia and he kept up a good fight through to the end.

Surrounded by his loving family, Wes died at his mother’s home in Gresham on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. He was 55 years old.

Wes is survived by his wife, Patty Ruan; son Allen Hodge; mother, Janette Tucker; father, Charles; stepmother, Bonnie; Sister, Cathy; and his brother, Chuck.

Wes was deeply loved by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and by all of his dear friends.

We will miss his good humor… his smile… his laughter.