OBITUARY: Lee Northrup Hodson

Lee Northrup Hodson, 92, died March 27, 2014, of natural causes.

Lee was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., May 21, 1921, and grew up in the Chicago area. Lee left his premed university studies in 1942 to serve America as an Army Sergeant in the Philippines. After the war, Lee joined and later purchased Hodson Lubricating Oil Co. With Lee's background in science, he invented and patented gear grease that would not lose viscosity at high temperature. Lee sold Hodson Oil in 1970 and retired to Corpus Christi with his wife Myrtle Whelps, where they enjoyed years of love, travel, friends and many activities in the community and at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

After Myrtle's death in 1992, Lee began avidly pursuing his woodworking hobby. He did antique restorations, created many functional and artistic pieces including a grandfather clock, a violin and religious articles incorporating stained glass and mosaic.

Always a loyal customer of Andy's Country Kitchen Restaurant, in advancing years and failing eyesight, Andy's became the center of Lee's life. He spent every day of the last eight years at Andy's, eating breakfast and lunch, greeting and communing with most of Andy's customers. Lee's life was certainly enriched by his relationships at Andy's. The constant care, friendship and protection he was provided by Andy's Restaurant owners, Angie and Isreal Dominguez, increased the quality of his life in a myriad of ways.

A funeral mass was held Tuesday, April 1, 2012 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Graveside services will at 1 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2014, at Sunset Lawn Cemetery in Harrisburg.

In lieu of flowers, it would be greatly appreciated if donations are made to New Century Hospice, 4550 Corona,Corpus Christi, Texas 78411.