Debra “Debbie” K. Hodge, 63, Spring Hill, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Menorah Medical Center in Leawood.
She was born in Fort Scott on Aug. 25, 1953, to Kennett and Lorene Roedel. She grew up in Elsmore, with four older brothers, LeRoy, Richard, Rollin and Lanny Roedel. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1971. Her son, Jason, was born in 1971, and her daughter, Pebbles, was born in 1973. In 1975, she and her family moved to Holly, Mich., where she met her current husband, Robert Hodge. They all moved back to Kansas in 1976. She went back to school and graduated from Pittsburg State University with her teaching degree in 1980. A few months later, she and Robert were married. Debbie then went on to Emporia State University and was the first person to get a master’s degree in Early Childhood Handicap from Emporia. She then went to Fort Scott and started up the new preschool for special needs children. After a few years, she went to Parsons State Hospital and worked with others to develop a new curriculum that is still being used today. Debbie then took a break and opened her own daycare in Iola, and ran it for three years. She then went to work for the Olathe School District and was the first teacher to run a preschool for special needs children in a public school in Olathe. She worked for Olathe for 24 years, and retired in 2015. Debbie then went on many cruises and saw a lot of the world.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, LeRoy, Rollin and Lanny Roedel.
Debbie is survived by her husband of 36 years, Robert Hodge, of the home — they were together 41 years; one son, Jason Hodge, wife Elizabeth and their daughter Trinity; one daughter, Pebbles Hodge-Gauer and husband Dan; one brother, Richard Roedel; eight nieces, four nephews, five great-nieces, 10 great-nephews, three great-great-nieces, and six great-great-nephews.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Elsmore Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Debbie Hodge Memorial Fund.
You may send your condolences to www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Debra Hodge
