J. Wade Hodges

J. Wade Hodges was born on July 15, 1931, to William C. and Gertrude Hodges. He ended his journey on November 16, 2023.

His first and most important identity was as a hard worker and entrepreneur. He started in grade school selling wheat for chicken feed to neighbors, delivering telegrams for Western Union, and pumping gas at Graham and Ross.

His adult work started the day he graduated from GFHS. His bookkeeping and business sense helped his dad to build a successful plumbing business. Working his way through apprentice and journeyman, he became a licensed master plumber. His only job for his entire adult life was working at the plumbing business, except for a brief hiatus while serving alongside his brother Harold in the Air Guard. He spoke vividly of the misadventures that he was part of while his Guard unit was deployed to California, Texas, and Georgia. Upon his return, he married Kathryn Houseman. He was a faithful husband of 55 years until her passing. They had four children, the second child dying shortly after birth.

Wade frequently remarked that he never worried about Hodges Plumbing making tremendous money, but simply focused on service and success followed. To his last days, former customers would speak with high praise of his honesty and service. The shop had every conceivable part needed and Wade knew how to fix anything.

His off-work pleasures were gardening, fishing, and collecting Western art. A lifelong resident of Great Falls, he was a lifetime member of a number of fraternal lodges including the Kiwanis, Moose, Eagles, and Elks. The last 17 years of their time together, he cared for Kathryn at home. Then he met his other love – Linda Knoche. The family loved having Linda join them as the center of Wade’s universe these 14 years. Dances at the various lodges and the piano bar at Eddie’s kept them busy.

Wade was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Grant, and Harold; one sister, Helen Dawson; and infant son, Stephen. He is survived by sister, Patricia Mollerstuen of Dallas, OR; three children, Laura Hodges, Victoria (Robert) Gregori, and Timothy (Kathleen) Hodges; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He is a hero, compassionate, empathetic, ethical, humble, and very generous.

The family extends its greatest thanks to the loving caregivers at the Reflections unit at The Grandview. They truly treated him as family, bringing peace to his last days. A public celebration of his life will be planned at a later date. He was a regular supporter of the Great Falls Food Bank. Gifts to the Food Bank in his memory will be greatly appreciated.