Obituary of David H. Hodgkins

Cheshire - David H. Hodgkins, 87, passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Janet (Young) Hodgkins.  

Mr. Hodgkins was born June 26, 1931 in Albany, NY, the son of the late Harold and Eleanor (Strait) Hodgkins. He served in the Navy on the USS Soley from 1951-55 and was a proud alumnus of the University of Maine.  Prior to his retirement, he was employed by GTE and Foxboro Company as an electrical engineer.

In 1962, David married his sweetheart, Janet, and they remained together for 56 years, until his passing.  In addition to being a faithful and devoted husband, David was deeply committed to his four children, making home life a priority, a gift for which they will be forever grateful.

David was an avid outdoorsman and hiker.  He loved the Appalachian Trail and hiked through his 80’s from Mt. Katahdin down as far as the Tennessee border.  He considered the state of Maine to be “God’s country”.  His love for the Maine woods and shore began as a child with times spent with family at their ancestral summer home, “Dusty”, along the DownEast coast, in Lamoine.  As a young family man, he built a remote cabin, by hand, on Richardson Lake in western Maine.  This became a favorite family retreat and a place of rejuvenation that he freely shared with others.

David was a man of deep faith and lived it by showing love and care for those around him, whether they were strangers, friends, or relatives.  He was particularly gifted at making visitors to the church congregations he attended feel welcome and loved.

For many years, David paired his faith and love of the outdoors by serving as a leader and mentor to teenagers in “Christian Service Brigade”.  Numerous young men were taught the value of faith and service and were given the opportunity to experience adventures such as hiking and canoeing in the Great North Woods.

Besides his wife, Mr. Hodgkins is survived by sister, Elaine Neske and her husband Raymond of Lynnwood, WA, his sons, Clark Hodgkins and his wife Denise of Ringgold, GA., John Hodgkins and his wife Tami of St. Anthony, MN, Gregory Hodgkins and his wife Linda of Hamden, and his daughter, Claire Hodgkins Corbiere and her husband Eben of East Sandwich, MA. David, known as “Papa”, will also be missed by his grandchildren: Erica, Nathan, Isaac, Noah, Lauren, Zachary, Seth, Matthew, and Isabella.

Arrangements – A Memorial Service will be held in Nelson Hall at Elim Park, 150 Cook Hill Road, Cheshire, on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM.  There are no calling hours and burial will be held at the convenience of the family.  The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire is assisting with arrangements.  For online condolences, to share a photo or a story, please visit www.fordfh.com.