tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post5331820101586887185..comments2009-09-11T10:12:04.995-04:00Maralee McKeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06932089538530191490noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-5829603170992178772009-09-11T09:02:12.586-04:002009-09-11T09:02:12.586-04:00Dearest Maralee,<br />What a beautiful tribute. It makes me wish I had known your dear stepfather. I&#39;ll be praying for you and your family as you adjust to life without him and eagerly look forward to seeing him in heaven. Love, LeslieLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982728362271907747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-7534401688084679832009-09-10T12:32:53.138-04:002009-09-10T12:32:53.138-04:00Thank you everyone for your kind words towards the tribute to my step-father. I&#39;m grateful for your kindness in reading about him!Maralee McKeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06932089538530191490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-66499949176284489382009-09-10T02:04:13.239-04:002009-09-10T02:04:13.239-04:00How lucky you and your family were to have had him in your lives. And, I suspect, that he was also lucky, in that he had all of you to love him back....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-60276754969360838192009-09-09T20:19:37.501-04:002009-09-09T20:19:37.501-04:00Wonderful story my friend! All my love to you.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251805862057327119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-11132757576022967822009-09-09T13:47:54.590-04:002009-09-09T13:47:54.590-04:00What a wonderful way to share your stepfather with the world. Thank you for sharing his life and your love with us. And welcome back! MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7222146252834742839.post-69377566531972876692009-09-09T09:44:20.655-04:002009-09-09T09:44:20.655-04:00Hello Everyone,<br /><br />This blog post was written last week before I received the news of the passing of Les Hodson, my beloved stepfather of 28 years.<br /><br />He touched my life in every way and helped mold the best of me. He prouldy set in the pew as I graduated from high school, he tutored me through college algebra (not an easy task), walked me down the aisle, held my hand through my first husband&#39;s long battle with cancer, and then held my heart as he died.<br /><br />He was my shelter, my secure and strong resting place.<br /><br />A few year&#39;s latter he gave his blessing on my second marriage. Three years after that, he paced up-and-down the hall outside my hospital door through 52 hours of labor with my first child. He was the first man, after Kent, my husband, to hold both my boys. <br /><br />Daddy was a good bit older than my mom. He was actually a WWII hero written about in more than one book.<br /><br />He was commisioned a Second Lieutent and then a Captain, bomber pilot, and squardon commander of a B29 group. He flew 35 bombing missions over Japan. Not one of his men or planes were ever lost. <br /><br />On Thanksgiving day of 1943 he piloted the last plane to Saigon. At the time it was the longest flight over water. <br /><br />Near the end of the war he become a pilot&#39;s training commander in what later would become &quot;Top Gun&quot; school.<br /><br />I&#39;ll never forget two times being surrounded by young pilots who treated Daddy like a rock star. They asked him questions for more than an hour each time. They applauded and admired him. They asked to have their pictures taken with him. Truth be told, at that moment, even though they were in their 20&#39;s and 30&#39;s, and Daddy was well into his 80&#39;s. They wanted to be him! <br /><br />After the war he returned to college and received his Master&#39;s Degree in engineering from Ohio Northern University. For aproximately the next 30 years he worked for Lever Brother&#39;s in New York. <br /><br />He and my mother met several years after the death of Daddy&#39;s first wife from cancer. (They had retired and moved to Florida before her death.)<br /><br />My mom and stepfather were married in 1981. Daddy was a man of great warmth, a deep desire to want to help in a practical way by fixing anything and everything he could. (Even if it involved taking it apart, just to have a look-see!) <br /><br />He was a master craftsman. I&#39;m the honored receipent of a grandfather clock and a china cabinet that he handmade with love. <br /><br />From finance, religion, politics, gardening, home repair, current events, and history he was interested in everything. <br /><br />Knowledge is what he craved, and wise counsel is what he gifted each of us who were lucky enough to have him as a mentor. <br /><br />Daddy is preceeded in death by his parents, brother, sister, adopted son, and one grandson. He is survied by my mother,three step children,four grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. <br /><br />What I miss the most about him already is the twinkle in his blue-gray eyes and his warm smile. When he saw you coming, his face always showed the true measure of his heart&#39;s love towards you.<br /><br />I miss, mourn and remember him. I&#39;m eternaly greatful and better because he was kind enough to share freely and generously the treasure of who he was with me and our family.<br /><br />I love, admire and appreicate you so much Daddy! I&#39;ll see you in Heaven!Maralee McKeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13559355210228411631noreply@blogger.com