Chester H. Hodge, lifelong Okmulgee County resident and retired Chief of the Okmulgee Police Department died April 3, 2022, in Muskogee at the age of 88. He was born in Schulter to the late Leonard and Lydia (Bullard) Hodge. He attended school in Schulter, graduating in 1951. He married Kaye Cecile Harkrider on June 30, 1953, in Okmulgee. Chester served his country for two years in the U.S. Army. He was a Radio Instructor and repairman in 1954 while stationed in Nuremberg, Germany. He was stationed in various places such as: Georgia, Arkansas and in Lawton. Chester served 35 years as an Okmulgee Police Officer, with 17 years as Chief of Police.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lenoard and Lydia, wife Kaye, a son, Dennis Ray Hodge, and brothers, Richard, George and Ned Hodge.
Chester is survived by; a son Mike Hodge and wife Pam, of Park Hill, Okla.; six grandchildren: Michael Eric Hodge of Jenks, Amanda McCaslin of Bixby, Dena Hodge of Muskogee, David Hodge of Okmulgee, Jamie Holdcroft of Wagoner, Michael Edward Hamrick of Jenks; ten great grandchildren; a brother, Jim Hodge and wife Cathy of Paragould, Arkansas and numerous nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be Thursday, April 7 from noon to 8 p.m., visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at !0 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022, at the First Baptist Church with Robert Frost officiating. Interment will follow in the Okmulgee Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Larry Hodge, Jerry Hodge, Wayne Hodge, Daniel Hodge, Chris McCaslin, and Mike Morrison.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee.