Jan. 13, 1944 - Jan. 2, 2013

MIDDLEBURY - James R. Hodge, 68, of Middlebury, died at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at home.

He was born on Jan. 13, 1944, to the late Homer A. and Margie (Butler) Hodge in Newport, Ark.

On May 10, 1986, he married LaVon Schoonover in Elkhart County.

Survivors include his wife; daughters Diane Hodge of Elkhart, Joy (Jack) Foust of Claypool and Delilah Maes of Anniston, Ala.; stepdaughters Donna Damron of Goshen and Cathy Weaver of Jones, Mich.; sons Darrell (Lisa) Hodge of Austin, Texas, and Leon Hodge of Elkhart; stepsons John Wheeler of Goshen and Kevin Wheeler of Middlebury; 25 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and brother Homer (Vera) Hodge of Goshen.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Beatrice Rogers.

Jim was a truck driver and worked as a welder for Starcraft.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 S. Main St., Middlebury. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, also at the funeral home.

Burial will be in New Pennsylvania Cemetery, Middlebury.

Memorials may be given to the funeral home to assist with expenses.