Bobby Wayne Hodges

Bobby Wayne Hodges of Mansfield, Texas, passed away at age 94 on April 7, 2024. Born in Hye, Texas to a farming and ranching family, Bob attended high school in both Stonewall and Fredericksburg. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a distinguished military graduate with a Civil Engineering degree and belonged to the Scabbard and Blade, Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi honorary societies. While working in Abilene during college, he met his future wife of 64 years, Ludline “Lu” Self, and they married in June 1953.

Bob entered the Air Force in June 1953 and completed pilot training in Mississippi and Texas after which Bob and Lu were stationed at Misawa AFB, Japan for 2.5 years where he flew F-86D aircraft in the 4th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. In 1957, he joined the Texas Air National Guard and flew F-102A and F-101 aircraft in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group at Ellington AFB, Houston, TX. In 1968, he flew 51 combat missions in Vietnam and Thailand during a volunteer 90-day tour of duty. He eventually served as Commander of the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group and in 1975 assumed command of Ellington AFB. In 1977, he was reassigned as Commander of the 136th Air Refueling Wing, Hensley Field, Dallas, Texas flying KC-97L aircraft and then C-130B aircraft upon unit conversion to the 136th Tactical Airlift Wing. In 1984, General Hodges was selected as commander of the Texas Air National Guard, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas. In 1985 he retired as a full time Air Technician after 28 years. He then became a weekender as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander in Chief of the Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois for an additional 5 years, fully retiring in 1989 as a Major General with 36 years, 11 months of service and 7500 flying hours.

Bob had many interests and hobbies outside his military career. Upon retiring from the military, he worked for H&R Block for 12 years preparing taxes. Bob loved gardening and landscaping, cooking, harvesting pecans around town, traveling, collecting geodes and coins, and analyzing the stock market. Bob and Lu were avid bridge players, both having achieved Life Master. They enjoyed playing with friends, traveling to tournaments, and teaching bridge to their grandsons. Bob became a certified ACBL bridge teacher and enjoyed teaching other bridge players.

He is survived by daughter Amy Hodges, grandsons Alden Hodges and Hayden Hodges, daughter-in-law Diana Hodges, sister Fredda Witters (Fred), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ludline Self Hodges, sons Russell Hodges and Darrell Hodges, parents Ernest and Marie Hodges, brother William Bealle “Buddy” Hodges, and sister Marcia Nell Gliddon. Services will be held at Moore Funeral Home,1219 N Davis Dr, Arlington TX 76012, on April 22, 2024. Visitation will be at 10am with funeral service at 11am. Interment will follow at 1:45p at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.