Howard James Hodgson

Howard James Hodgson, 73, passed from this life Thursday, November 19, 2009, at his home following a seven-month battle with cancer. Howard, the son of Wesley James and Marion McInnis Hodgson, was born April 14, 1936, in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. He left the family home in Forest, Ontario in 1955 to work and further his education in Toronto. One of his more interesting jobs during that period was with the Canadian National Railroad surveying as far north as Manitoiuwadge, north of Lake Superior. While in Toronto he graduated from Humberside Collegiate Institute and was a member of the East York Track Club. A truly providential meeting at the track club led him to sunny West Texas and Abilene Christian College in the fall of 1958. There he was a member of the freshman track team and ran with some of the greatest in ACU track history. Following graduation in 1961 he left for Toronto to apply for a permanent visa to the USA. With that in hand he returned to Abilene to marry Margaret Kamstra, an art student he met while modeling for her figure drawing class. Immediately following Margaret's graduation in 1963, they left for Long Island, NY, to be a part of the Exodus-Bayshore church planting group. After six years on the Island they moved Upstate to Hoosick Falls. In 1970 Howard became a proud citizen of the United States. Reading its history became a favorite pastime. He completed a thirty-three year teaching career, retiring in 1996. He was a member of the Bennington, Vermont Church of Christ. To be near their adult children, Howard and Margaret moved back to Abilene in October, 1997. Howard loved the short, mild winters but also fell in love with Rocky Mountain ski country. He accompanied several of Dr. Joe Bell's and Dr. Lynn Luttrell's ACU ski classes to Colorado and New Mexico as a sponsor. In 2008 Howard realized a long-held dream of driving the entire Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska, and being on the shores of the Arctic Ocean at the summer solstice. Howard was a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ from 1997 until his death. He served as an elder from 2002 until 2006. He worked with Loaves and Fishes Fellowship from its inception and also helped with the monthly Hilltopper luncheon, He always called himself a "people person" and loved being a greeter on Sunday mornings. Howard is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughter, Hilary Kay Jamison of Potosi; son, Patrick Stirling Hodgson and wife Joy of Lubbock; and grandchildren, Parker McInnis Jamison, Creede Campbell Jamison, and Isabel Erin Hodgson. Also surviving Howard are his sisters, Jean Dawson of Etobicoke, Ontario, and Mary Smith of Sarnia, Ontario; one niece; five nephews; and many cousins across the United States and Canada. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends around the world. Visitation with the family will be Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The funeral service will at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 23, at Hillcrest Church of Christ officiated by John Barton and Terry Brown. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery. Memorial remembrances may be made to American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville, Bldg. B, Suite 107, Abilene, TX 79605, or the Food Bank of Abilene/West Central Texas Backpack Program for hungry children, 5505 North First St., Abilene, TX 79603.