Billy Dean Hodges, 81, of Life Care Center of Banner Elk, died Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, 2012, at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.

Mr. Hodges was born Sept. 12, 1931, in Watauga County, a son of the late John Samuel Hodges and Nancy Jane Isaacs Hodges. He was a retired truck route salesman for Mountain Oil Company and served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Hodges is survived by one son, Eric Paul Hodges of Vilas; one daughter, Stephanie Lynn Hodges and husband, Curtis, of Sugar Grove; three grandsons, Joshua Allen Hodges of Sugar Grove, Jeremiah Hodges and Andrew Hodges, both of Vilas; one sister, Joyce Hodges Warren and husband, the Rev. Edd Warren of Granite Falls; and one brother, Robert L. Hodges of Toledo, Ohio. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Matthew C. Main; three sisters, Rosa Hodges, Rachel Combs, and Mary Eggers; and three brothers, Raleigh Hodges, J.D. "Doc" Hodges, and Paul Hodges.

Funeral services for Billy Dean Hodges will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Edd Warren. Military graveside rites and burial will follow in Mabel United Methodist Church Cemetery, provided by American Legion Post 130 of Boone and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90.

The family will receive friends 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, prior to the service.

The family respectfully requests no food.

Online condolences may be sent to the Hodges family at http://www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.