Janet May Hodge

Janet May Johnstone Hodge, the daughter of David and Margaret Parry Johnstone, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 6, 1922, and passed away at her home in Claridon Township, Geauga County, Ohio on February 1, 2009. Janet lived and attended school in Garfield Heights. Graduating in 1940, she was the first homecoming queen for Garfield Heights High at the school’s first athletic fields, the Blaugrund Stadium, that this year will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Her future husband, James Moyes Hodge, Jr. was a four year letterman in football, basketball and baseball at Garfield Heights High. Janet, who was a four year cheerleader, was his biggest fan. In 1942, Jim Hodge enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Janet followed Jim across the country via long train rides often in blackout conditions. She often boasted that she chased him until it was marriage or the Pacific Ocean. The couple married in Seattle in1942. During the war, Janet worked for the Standard Oil Company in downtown Cleveland where she met and began her friendship with Teeter Grosvenor. The family lived in Bay Village for thirty-six years, but when Janet was left a widow in 1987, it was logical to make the move to Geauga County close to family and life-long friends. Janet spent her life working with children, as a Sunday School teacher for the Presbyterian Church in Bay Village, in PTA and as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader. She worked as a tour guide at the Geauga County Historical Society truly enjoying her work with the school tours. She also volunteered at the American Cancer Society’s Good-Buys Shop in Chardon. Janet is survived by her children, Dianne (Dennis) Kellogg of Claridon, Ohio and James (Sally) Hodge of Rochester, MN; grandchildren Wendy (Joe) Bergant, Leslie(Steve) Smetana of Claridon, Matthew and Daniel Hodge of Rochester; great-grandchildren, Michael, Bryce, Travis, Jarett, Madelyn, Jillian Smetana (all of Claridon). Her parents and brothers William and David Johnstone are deceased.