Mr. Rip Rockie Hodson, age 88, of Salisbury, formerly of Ashe County died Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. A graveside service will be held Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Friendly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with his son Mr. Roy Hodson officiating with military rites. The family will receive friends at 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. one hour prior to the graveside service on Thursday at the Friendly Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Hodson was born in Ashe County, North Carolina on December 4, 1920 to the late Horton Hodgson and Bessie Richardson Hodgson. He was a former reporter for the Kannapolis Daily Newspaper. He served to defend our freedom in the United States Army as an army tank driver during severe conflict in World War II. He served as a minister of the Gospel for most of his adult life. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Talmadge Hodgson. Mr. Hodson is survived by two sons, Roy Hodson and wife Debbie, of Emmalena, KY and Roland Hodson of England; one daughter, Lynn Hodson of Salisbury; two sisters, Grace Rash of West Jefferson and Boyd Powell and husband Pat of Salisbury; four grandchildren, Caleb Hodson and wife Gabby, Luke Hodson and wife Larinda, Nate Hodson, and Ben Hodson; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews also survive