Carl T. Hodges
1930 – 2009
LEWISTON — Carl Tainter Hodges, 79, of Russell Park Health Care and formerly of Turner, died Monday, Sept. 21, at the Manor, where he resided for the past four years.
He was born in Lewiston, April 21, 1930, a son of Isaiah and Ethel Hodges. He graduated from Leavitt Institute in 1948 and took a post graduate course at Edward Little High School in 1949, where he decided to pursue a teaching career in public school music, thanks to the then school music teacher, Donald Gay.
In 1954, he graduated from the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor, where he received his bachelor of music in public school music. After teaching in Jay and Wilton for four years, he taught in the schools of Turner, Leeds, Greene and Buckfield for 21 years.
He served as organist for the Turner Federated Church, now the Turner Village Church, for 25 years and was organist and choir director of the Greene Baptist Church, of which he was a member. He was also president of the Lewiston & Auburn Philharmonic Club. He always enjoyed playing music at the Veterans’ home in Augusta, weekly as well as various nursing homes in Lewiston-Auburn especially Russell Park Manor when his mother was a resident and continued that tradition when he became a resident, doing various music programs at Christmas and other holidays.
He was a very active member of Nezinscot Lodge 101 in Turner as grand organist from 1994 to this year, and grand organist for the Grand Lodge of Maine, January 1995 to May 2008. He was also a 32nd degree Mason for Valley of Portland in April 27, 1996, organist at Ashlar Lodge 1994 to 2006 and a 14th degree Mason for Valley of Androscoggin in Feb. 2, 1996. He received his 25-year pin April 5, 1997. He was a member of Turner Chapter, Lewiston Commandry and Kora Shrine. He always enjoyed summertime at his cottage in Bristol. It was built by his parents in the 1930s, and he had many fond memories from there.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Phyllis Hodges; a niece, Patricia Shellnutt; his extended family at Russell Park Manor; and his many Lodge friends.
He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Don; and a niece, Mrs. Charles, (Iris) Allen.