Carolyn Reed Hodge, an activist in the Plastics Pioneers Association, who spent most of her career in marketing and sales support in the plastics industry, died unexpectedly April 17.
She was 61.
“They suspect it was a brain aneurysm,” her husband, Al Hodge, said four days later from their home in Ann Arbor, Mich. “I found her in the bathroom of our master bedroom. She was conscious, she was breathing but she was unresponsive. Essentially her heart stopped on the way to the hospital.”
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, at 608 E. William St., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Reed Hodge was born on March 1, 1956 in Sewickley, Pa., but lived most of her early adult life in the Akron, Ohio, area. She was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Women's Network organization in Akron.
In her personal time, she was a freelance writer for numerous charities within the Ann Arbor area, producing numerous news articles and news releases.
For the Plastics Pioneers Association, Reed Hodge chaired the PALS Committee of spouses of PPA members. While the pioneers knew lots of people in the group, often the spouses did not, said Cathy Connell, administrative assistant of the Plastics Pioneers.
“She was always so positive, so uplifting. She always had something good to say about everybody. Nothing negative,” Connell said. “She will be truly missed.
“She was very good at getting them involved with the other spouses and members,” Connell said. The committee runs 50-50 raffles and makes decorations for tables, as well as other activities.
The PALS Committee meet during PPA events. Connell said Reed Hodge would set up a lot of the meetings.
“She was just so involved. She was very, very social. She was just a great person,” Connell said.
Al Hodge became PPA president at the group's meeting earlier this year, she said. Connell is human resources director at Chroma Corp.
Reed Hodge was the first classified advertising manager at Plastics News, starting when the newspaper began in 1989, and working there until she left in 1995.
Her passion was gardening and exploring the lifestyle of the Ann Arbor area. She kept in touch with people.
She is survived by her husband, a son Philip Dickson, a daughter, LeeAnn Gedeon, her step-daughters, Alyssa Hodge and Megan Hodge, three grandchildren, Avery, Olivia and Jack, and her brothers, Mike Reed and Tom Reed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to Saline Social Services in Saline, Mich. Leave condolences at www.muehligannarbor.com, the website of Muehlig Funeral Chapel.