Bobbie “Bob” Lee Hodge was born on September 25, 1932, on the family farm near Phillipsburg, Kansas, to Charlie and Myra Belle (Yowell) Hodge.
The youngest of three children, Bob grew up in rural Kansas, where farm life taught him the value of hard work. He often recalled hauling water, tending animals, and working alongside his family before electricity ever reached the farm.
Bob attended school in Phillipsburg, graduating from Phillipsburg High School. He later worked in trucking and carpentry with his father and brothers. In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Parks Air Force Base in California and attended aircraft engine school in Amarillo, Texas. Bob served as a crew chief at O’Hare Field in Chicago during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1961.
After his service, Bob returned to Kansas to continue his work in construction. In 1965, he and his brothers, Warren and Willis, developed their first nursing home, Prairie Haven, in Kensington, Kansas. Their success led to additional facilities in Phillipsburg and Salina, reflecting Bob’s dedication to compassionate elder care.
Bob moved to Salina in 1986, where he served as administrator for Kenwood View Nursing Home until his retirement in 1994. He took great pride in his work and often said he truly loved the nursing home profession.
In 1992, Bob married Norma Dumler Feil, and they shared 33 years together. Bob and Norma enjoyed traveling in their RV with friends and spending winters in a warmer Texas climate. In later years, Bob was especially proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will remember him as a steady presence and a loving role model.
Bob treasured time with family and friends, his morning coffee with “the guys,” and watching sports. He was also particularly proud of his 40 years of involvement with the Isis Shriners, and he was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Bob passed away on December 31, 2025, in Salina, Kansas, at the age of 93.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers. He is survived by his wife, Norma of Salina; children, Rhonda Anderson of Lindsborg, Rod Feil (Patricia) of Wichita, and Diana Looney (Joel) of Salina; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with visitation from 9-10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Isis Shrine Travel Fund or the Immanuel Lutheran Church Foundation in Bob’s honor, in care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.
Above all, Bob will be remembered for his work ethic, his deep devotion to family and his unwavering kindness. And to end in typical Bob fashion, “Take care.”