Joseph "Bennie" Hodges

Joseph “Bennie” Hodges lovingly known as PaPa, 74, of Laurel St. Bluefield, WV formerly of Crumpler, WV passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Joseph was born on March 04, 1942 in McComas, WV to the late Andrew and Inez Hedrick Hodges. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the UMWA for the past 27 years, he was a cofounder as well as assistant Pastor of Liberty Chapel Church in Crumpler, WV. Some of the things he enjoyed most was fishing with his boys and listening to his girls sing. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two Brothers Tom Hodges and Jack Hodges; three sisters Nancy Myers, Norma Price and Willie Harvey and a son in law Jeff Watkins. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Patricia Rorrer Hodges; his children Joe Hodges and wife Wendy, Diana Watkins, Ed Hodges and wife Tammy, Barbie East and husband Larry and Greg Mallory who he thought of as a son. One Brother Roger Hodges and two Sisters Carol Mitchem, Pamela Smith. Nine granddaughters and thirteen great grandchildren. Funeral service will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Hudler officiating the service. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell, WV where Bernie Gills, Roger Clark, Jesse Shrewsbury, Stephen Nichols, Stephen Steed, Ben Steed, Robbie Armstrong and Chuck Rorrer will be serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer will be Little Stephen Steed. The family will receive friends and relatives on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.