Wallace Dwight Hodge, 86, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Wally was born April 25, 1937, in Charleroi, son of Wallace Burnell Hodge and Elma Murphy Hodge. Wallace graduated from Charleroi High School in 1955. In 1958, he met Penny Maple, also from Charleroi, and they were married in 1959 after he graduated from Pennsylvania State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960-63. He later went on to earn a master’s degree from Duquesne University and his Ph.D. from West Virginia University. Wally spent 26 years of his career at California University of Pennsylvania (now Penn West California) as a professor and later as chairman of the special education department. After retiring in 1994, he and Penny spent 18 years in Lillian, Ala., and 11 years in Kingsland, Ga., before moving to Fernandina Beach, Fla., in 2023. Wally enjoyed woodworking and woodcarving, as well as home improvement projects. He and Penny traveled to several countries, sometimes to conduct genealogy research, and they explored and camped all over the United States in their RV. He also took great delight in his granddaughters and great- granddaughters, celebrating their accomplishments with pride. Wally always lived by his motto: “The journey is the joy.” Wallace is survived by his wife of 64 years, Penelope Maple Hodge; and their two sons, Eric of St. Marys, Ga., and Kevin (Lisa) of East Hampstead, N.H. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Dana (Matt) Douglas; and great-granddaughters, Summer and Jade of Kingsland, Ga.; and granddaughters, Emma (Brandon) Emerson of Chesapeake, Va., and Sophie Hodge of East Hampstead, N.H. A celebration of Wallace’s life will be held at a later date.
