BENTONVILLE — Judge Dewain William Hodge Sr.,

84, of Bentonville, died November 2, 2021, peacefully at home with his family. Born in Hutton, La., July 24, 1937, to Ottis and Hazel Hodge.

When Dewain was in the 7th grade, his family moved to DeRidder, La. As a tight end of his DeRidder Dragons football team, he graduated from DeRidder High School in 1956. Dewain attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., where he met a little blonde named Judy Isbell. They were paired in a university dance class, waltzing their way right into 60 beautiful years of marriage. He graduated from NSU in 1961. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, Dewain was Stationed in Fort Benning, Ga. for paratrooper training. He and Judy were then stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., where they had a little blonde daughter, Pamela Lynn. She was born in the Army hospital and they joked that she only cost $7.50, the cost of Judy’s meals. Dewain was company commander of a basic training unit, training troops for deployment to Vietnam.

Two years later he was honorably discharged as a Captain. He then joined the Army Reserves as a member of the 82nd Airborne Brigade, serving as a Green Beret out of a unit in Breaux Bridge, La. At that time they had two additional children, daughter Paula Leigh, and Dewain William Hodge, Jr. (Billy), while living in Baton Rouge, La.

Dewain was employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company as a Claims Manager, and later employed by Aetna in Shreveport, La.

Dewain had always wanted to go to law school so they decided that it was now or never. He attended law school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville from 1970-1973. After passing the Bar Exam they moved to Waldron, opening a law office. They had three children and started from scratch in 1973.

In 1975 their younger daughter, Paula Leigh, died suddenly of an aneurysm. This was devastating, but with Dewain’s strong leadership the family prevailed.

Dewain served as Criminal Law Judge for Scott County; and later was appointed Judge for Arkansas Worker’s Compensation in Northwest Arkansas where he continued until retirement.

He enjoyed coaching Little League football, basketball, and baseball. He also was on the Board of Trustees of the Mercy Medical System. After retirement, Dewain and Judy enjoyed traveling in RV’s with pals Barbara and Larry Rice. They went all over the U.S. for many years, visiting all 50 states. For about 10 winters they and their friends, Joy and Earl Ray Black, toured Florida and the Keys in their RV’s. They then purchased a place in Yuma, Arizona where they spent the following five winters. They also enjoyed vacations in Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada. Fishing in Canada and on Toledo Bend was his delight.

Being an avid outdoorsman, he also loved playing golf, boating, gardening, bird hunting, swimming, snow skiing, canoeing, and barbecuing. He grilled the best steaks and hamburgers on the planet. His yard once won the “Yard of the Year” award in Rogers. He loved God, family, and friends.

Predeceasing Dewain was their beloved daughter, Paula Leigh Hodge, who died at the age of 10.

To cherish his memory he leaves his wife, Judy Elena Isbell Hodge; daughter, Pamela Lynn Christmas of Kenai, Ala.; son, Billy (Dewain William Hodge, Jr.) and daughterin-love, Shannon of Springdale; grandson David William Hodge and wife Hannah of Dallas; and granddaughters Jennifer Leigh Olin and husband Scott, of Raleigh, N.C.; Allison Andrioaie and husband Marian, of Bentonville; Maegan Hodge of Harrison; and Tori Ledbetter and husband Ben of Rogers. Handsome great-grandsons, Avery and Kade Olin; and lovely little great-granddaughter, Olive Ledbetter.

Memorial services will be held at New Life Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, Bella Vista, AR, 72715. November 20th at 1 p.m., with grandson Ben Ledbetter, officiating. Visitation with family following memorial service will be at Village on the Park Clubhouse, 3800 SW Mt. Carmel Dr., Bentonville, AR 72713.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, AR 72712.