Loreta Hodge

Loreta Halt Hodge, 96, a former resident of Eel River Township in Allen County and more recently of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, November 2, 2011, at the Palm Terrace Health Facility in Lakeland after an extended illness. Mrs. Hodge was born on March 12, 1915 in Eaton in Delaware County, a daughter of Sesel and Gladys (Chapman) Castor, and moved to Fort Wayne as a child with her parents. On September 21, 1935 she was married to Eddie Halt.e The couple spent the early years of their marriage near Collins in Whitley County, and later moved to Eel River Township.e Mr. Halt preceded her in death on June 16, 1971. She owned and operated the 19th Hole Minerature Golf and Cool Spot Ice Cream for several years, and also worked as a real estate broker.e She originally owned her own real estate office, and later worked as a broker for other agencies, retiring in 1988. Her second marriage took pace on October 1, 1978 to Charles "Lark" Hodge.e He preceded her in death on May 4, 1997.e She had been a resident of Lakeland since 2003. She was a member and past worthy matron of Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136, and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary in Garrett and also the Harvest House Group in Garrett.e In her leisure time she was an avid card and Bingo player, and loved dancing. The surviving relatives include two daughters Kay (Maurice) Hartman of Leesburg, Fla. and Dr. Linda D. (Charles) Castor of Lakeland, Fla; a son Larry T. (Sherry) Halt of Edwards, Mo; a step-son Charles L. Hodge, Jr. of Melbourne, Fla; three sisters Jean (Howard) Hawkins of Pandora, Ohio, Barbara (David) Kiracofe of Sarasota, Fla., and Carol Symonds of Sarasota, Fla; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister Ruby Castor; three brothers Fred Castor, Paul Castor, and Kenneth Castor; and by a grandson L. T. Halt. A funerale service will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, November 11, 2011 at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco.e Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday after 9:30 a. m.e Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136 will conduct memorial services at 10:30 a. m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in thee Riverveiw Cemetery, south of Churubusco. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church, 715 Cornelia Ave., Lakeland, FLe 33815 *********************************************