Ralph B. Hodson Sr.

Lt. Col. Ralph B. Hodson, Sr., 99, of LaFayette, NY, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, October 30, 2017, at Loretto in Syracuse, NY. Born on May 19, 1918, in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Henry Thomas and Louise (Pascal) Hodson. Ralph joined the US Army in 1941, fought in the Aleutian Islands, and was discharged from active duty in 1945 as a proud WWII Veteran. He went on to join the Army Reserves and served for over thirty years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Ralph married Kathryn Sancimino on May 6, 1945, after a 6-week correspondence courtship. In 1953, he built his home in LaFayette for his growing family. Ralph and Kathryn, inseparable, spent over 59 years together before her death on May 9, 2004. His love of the railroad started with the construction of a model railroad layout at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. When the Fair ended, he was hired at the transportation department of the New York Central Railroad, which would become Penn Central Railroad, and finally Conrail. His career spanned from a brakeman, to a conductor, then yardmaster and the final several years as a Senior Operations Analyst, retiring in 1982. Ralph was a communicant and former parish administrator of St. Joseph’s Church in LaFayette, a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and past president of NARVE. He was also involved in model railroading clubs, worked the election polls in LaFayette for several years, and baked hundreds of pies for the LaFayette Apple Festival. Most importantly, he loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ralph is survived by his sons, Ralph Jr. (Carleen) Hodson of Baldwinsville, NY, Tom (Sandra) Hodson of Liverpool, NY, Paul (Debra) Hodson of Saratoga Springs, NY, Patrick (Suzy) Hodson of Baldwinsville, NY, and John (Diane) Hodson of Gwinn, MI; daughters, Mary Lou Caples of Liverpool, NY, Kathy (Linda Young) Gerber of Stuart, FL, and Rose (Dennis) Lundy of LaFayette, NY; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, Ralph was predeceased by an infant son, Joseph, in 1960; granddaughter, Sara-Jean Hodson; sister, Dorothy Hill; daughter-in-law, Mary Jean Hodson; and son-in-law, David Caples. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017, at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13205. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the Church of the Nativity at St. Joseph’s, 6104 US-20, LaFayette, NY 13084. Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum, DeWitt. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph’s name to the LaFayette Fire Department, 2444 US-11, LaFayette, NY 13084. To express sympathy, please visit www.ballweg-lunsford.com.

Ralph B. Hodson Sr.

May 19, 1918 - October 30, 2017