George Hodge

George Hodge, 84, of Camillus, died Thursday, January 19, 2006 at Community-General Hospital. Born in Mill Shoals,Illinois on Thursday, February 3, 1921, he was the son of Rufus Virgil Hodge and Armilda Duckworth. He lived in Buffalo and Syracuse until moving to Camillus more than 30 years ago. George received a bachelor´s degree in administration from the University of Buffalo in 1949 and a master´s degree from Brown University in 1964. He retired from Syracuse Savings Bank in 1986 after 36 years and was later employed by Regional Learning Service. He was a veteran of World War II during which he served as a sergeant in Europe. George was a member of Fairmount Community Church where he was also a moderator. He was a former president of the Onondaga Nature Centers, former trustee for Maxwell Memorial Library, former president of Central New YorkPersonnel Management Association and the Community Council on Careers. A track and field runner for the Amateur Athletic Union, he was the first American to win a 40-year-old race in Hamilton, Ontario in 1941. George is predeceased by his brothers Ernest and John Hodge. Surviving are his wife of 55 years, the former Mary Lou Pfeffer; son and daughter-in-law, Davidand Esther of Tully; daughters and son-in-law, Karen of Camillus and Susanand Richard Copland of Hillsborough, North Carolina; two granddaughters, Karli and Kathleen and one great-granddaughter, Hailey. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, January 23, 2006at Fairmount Community Church with the Rev. Eileen Dearborn and the Rev. P.V. George officiating. Friends may call Sunday, January 22, 2006 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee. St., Camillus. Contributions may be made to Fairmount Community Church, 4801 W. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13219 or to Habitat for Humanity, 901 Oak St., Syracuse, NY 13203.