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Isaac Green Hodges III was born on June 19, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas. He was the only child of Lucille Steen Hodges and Isaac Green Hodges II. Called “Jr.” by his family, he accepted Christ at an early age, and attended Mt. Zion First Baptist Church with his large multigenerational family. He was a good student, liked math, science and was known to be curious and a problem-solver.
Isaac showed an early interest in business after seeing a bicycle in the Charles A. James Bicycle Shop. He made an agreement with the owner to purchase the bicycle by making weekly payments. Early each morning he’d shine shoes and sold newspapers to make weekly payments on the bicycle until paid out. He loved to take things apart and fix them. He repaired small tools, appliances as well as bicycles and lawn mowers. His father worked for Tom Benson Chevrolet as a mechanic, and he spent time there doing odd jobs and was later given the job of installing radios into new cars. He later spent time installing radios for others in both old and new cars and was able to purchase a used car while in high school. Isaac graduated from Phyllis Wheatly High School in 1950. He was accepted into MIT with dreams of obtaining an engineering degree, but it was too costly. Instead, he attended St. Phillips college and joined the Air Force. There he worked in radio repair and would assist in airplane engine repair. Upon his return to San Antonio, he met a beautiful and tall young woman who worked as a carhop at a local drive-in. He became a regular customer arriving in his loud car that announced him a block before his arrival. The two dated. She called him “Ike”. They fell in love, and he married his sweetheart, Glodene Ramsey, on New Year’s Eve in 1955. He was immediately stationed to Charleston, South Carolina where the two lived and begun their lives as a family. They returned to San Antonio, Texas with their daughter and welcomed their son while building their first home. They were members and attended Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Their family grew to welcome three daughters over the following 12 years. During this time Isaac was industrious in his Civil Service work at Kelly Air Force Base promoting through the GS ranks. His time with the military and his civil service career influenced his approach to business. He portrayed a firm but fair approach in his business dealings. He built a growing radio and TV repair shop in his home. He added a stand-alone garage to his home for this business. He did his own taxes and soon his friends brought theirs. He took tax preparation courses and added another source of revenue to support his growing family. His interest in Real Estate had begun after experiencing challenges when he purchased the lot and built his home years earlier. He took real estate courses at night and received his agent and broker’s license. He accepted a position as a Realty Agent at Kelly. He knew many friends and families who were struggling to find an affordable home. He opened his own real estate brokerage which he called Isaac G. Hodges III & Associates to practice as a Realtor. It became well known on the Eastside of San Antonio. For many years he practiced part time and weekends to help families and friends achieve housing without the challenges he faced. A friend built an apartment complex which he managed, and he found it helped many families achieve housing. He decided he wanted to do the same. Over the next few years, he purchased a lot on Nebraska St (later changed to Martin Luther King St.) and built a small apartment complex that housed 4 families for several years until it was sold to the City of San Antonio to build the Alamodome. He continued to help families buy affordable homes and helped others sell their homes and family estates at a fair price. As his part time business grew, he became interested in property management, and he helped property owners rent their family estates and hold on to their family land. As he approached 50, he decided to retire from Kelly and take Hodges Real Estate to a full-time business. He had raised most of his children to adulthood and supported their private school and college education. He and Glodene were grandparents and were called “Momsie” and “Popsie”. They wanted to slow down, have more family time and to travel. Having their anniversary on New Year’s Eve, ensured Isaac and Glodene, had opportunities to take an annual break for entertainment by attending several formal balls. After retirement, they began to plan trips and cruises with the most memorable being their trip to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii and their Alaskan cruise. They purchased their final home, in Windcrest, where his wife made their home the place for all family events. They joined Second Baptist Church and Isaac sang in the Men’s choir. Glodene, retired from the Real Estate business and even sewing as her health began to change. Isaac had become a Real Estate Appraiser but slowed his practice to help care for his wife. They welcomed great-grandchildren. Glodene’s health saw a further decline and on November 19, 2015, her Father welcomed her home. Isaac loved and missed Glodene and continued to support his growing family with guidance and wisdom. He managed property for a grandson and gave career guidance to other grandsons stepping into their management careers. He had reduced his business down to manage a few properties and had begun training his daughter to take on the family Real Estate business. His health had changed, and his pace of work slowed. He missed his wife and spoke of her daily. He grieved the unexpected loss of his first grandchild. On September 19, 2021, Isaac was welcomed by his Father into heaven. He followed his wife, Glo, who passed six years earlier on the same day.
Issac G. Hodges III is survived by a large and loving family: His daughter, Annette (Howard) Brothers of Gonzales, son, Isaac G. Hodges IV, and daughters, Cynthia Hodges, Karen (Carl) Catlin, and Jocelyn (Thomas) Hille all of San Antonio. Grandsons, George Brothers of Austin and Robert Brothers of San Antonio, granddaughter, Kirstain Hardeman, of Washington D.C., grandson, Michael Jackson of Maryland, granddaughters, Desiree Hazel (fiancé Shaun Whitworth), Desmona Hazel, of San Antonio, and Destiny (Robert) Mason, of Missouri, grandsons Samuel Hille, Joshua Hille and granddaughter, Summer Hille of San Antonio, Texas. A granddaughter-in-law, Maribel Brothers of Florida, and great-grandchildren, Cameron and Khalia Brothers. Brother-in-laws, Clyde (DeeDee) Ramsey of Houston and Harvey Ramsey of New Braunfels and a host of cousins, other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife, Glodene R. Hodges, his mother, Lucille Keys and father, Isaac G. Hodges II and grandson, Howard Aaron Brothers.
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