Francis Loreta Park Hodges went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 26, 2023. She was born on January 15, 1927 to Minnie Mayhew Park and W.J. Park, Jr. near Winters, Texas. Loreta moved to Ballinger at the age of three with her grandparents, Lula and Will Park, Sr. She attended Ballinger schools and graduated in 1944. While at Ballinger High School she was a member of the Bearcat Band and was also on the tennis team and yearbook. She attended San Angelo Business College and worked at Goodfellow Field.
In 1946, Loreta married Rufus C. Hodges of Ballinger and raised four sons and one daughter. They lived in Menard, Ballinger, Alpine, Marfa, Fresno California, Midland, Axtell and retired in San Angelo. Loreta moved back to Midland in August, 2013. Rufus and Loreta owned a number of businesses while residing in Midland, one of which was Hodges Furniture and Appliance on north Big Spring where Ivy Cottage is now located.
Loreta was also known as Reta to her friends and Gma to her 14 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She truly loved the Lord with all of her heart and was a wonderful example of a loving Christian woman. In past years she was the organist at her church, Glen Meadows Baptist in San Angelo, where she was a long time member. Loreta was always up for playing games or working a jigsaw puzzle. She also loved to read, paint, cook and sew, but one of her greatest loves was music and she would play her piano daily and occasionally at rest homes. She later donated her piano to the chapel at Brookdale Senior Living in Midland, where she resided for the past 10 years. Loreta loved adventure, whether it was deer hunting, going on a cruise, swimming with a dolphin, traveling the world or traveling 125 mph in a Nascar...Yes, she did! She never let her age hold her back. One of her most treasured trips was with a group to Israel where she got to ride a camel and was re-baptized in the Jordan River. Loreta’s biggest joy was her family. She was so proud of each one of them and they of her. She will be missed beyond words by everyone that knew and loved her.
Loreta always said that she was ready to go to heaven whenever the good Lord was ready to call her home, that she has had her “ticket” for a long time! We look forward to the day when we will all be together again in our mansion in the sky!
Loreta was preceded in death by her husband and three sons, Rufus Weldon Hodges, William Blaine Hodges and Terry Park Hodges. Also preceding her in death were grandson Kenny Hodges and great-grandson Christian Drews, sister Minnie Worthington and brothers Chester Park and William Ray Park.
She is survived by her son, Kenneth Dell Hodges and wife Chong Hye of Ft. Worth and daughter Ann Elizabeth Wilton and husband Kevin of Midland. Loreta is also survived by Delores, Justin and Larry Beralek of Axtell and Peggy Rosser of San Angelo. Surviving grandchildren are Lori Franco and husband John, Christine Oliver and husband Jason, Marsha Drews and husband David, Leah Eggenburger and husband Jason, Stephen Hodges and wife Kelly, Deborah Sterling and husband Aubrey, Chris Hodges and wife Selena, Bryan Hodges and wife Claire, Carrie Maier and husband John, Jeff Hodges and wife Jennifer, Sallye Sheridan and wife Jessica, Dawn Wilkerson, Katie Baccus and husband Ben and many great and great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to her church: Glen Meadows Baptist Church, 6002 Knickerbocker Road, San Angelo, TX 76904.
The family will receive friends for visitation Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 9-11 AM at Ellis Funeral Home, 4616 N Big Spring St. Graveside services will begin at 11 AM at Resthaven Memorial Park.
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