Mildred Buckler Hodges

Mildred Buckler Hodges of Indian Head passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 with her family, caregivers and her beloved little dog Sallie by her side.

Mildred was born on April 16, 1919 in St Mary’s County to W. Bernard and Carrie (Quade) Buckler.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Oden and beloved daughter Charlotte along with her sisters, Ethel Carter and Louise Bushey.

She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Hoeppner (Chuck), Granddaughters Kim Gladwell (Jack Welch) and Carrie Hoeppner Proudfit (Randy) and the light of her life, five-year-old Great Granddaughter Emma Grace Proudfit.

In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by many nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbors, and friends, especially dear friend, Josephine Riley.  Mildred was a 1937 graduate of Margaret Brent HS in Mechanicsville, MD.   She moved to Indian Head when she married Oden Hodges in October of 1938.

Mildred was a member of the St Mary’s Altar Guild, enjoyed duck pin bowling first at the Indian Head bowling alley then later at Curley’s in Waldorf.  She loved attending card parties throughout the county and enjoyed meeting her girlfriends for regular card parties in their homes.  Really enjoyed all those good desserts the ladies made!

Mildred was one of the original members of the IHVFD Ladies Auxiliary.  She worked part-time for several years at the Indian Head drug store for 75 cents per hour and thought she was rich when she got a 10-cent raise.  She was an active member of the Indian Head Senior Center where she learned to shoot pool and got so good at it; she invested in her very own pool stick.  Mildred was the most sought-after raffle ticket seller at the Center, her high energy and spunk always brought in good sales!  She was also a member of the “Red Hats” club and the Potomac Heights Leisure club where she enjoyed bus trips out of state and playing bingo with her many friends.  

One of her most favorite activities right up to her passing, was playing the card game “Pitch”.  She taught her son in law and youngest caregiver how to play Pitch and got huge satisfaction when she won.  Her favorite quote when you asked how the card game went was “I beat their tail off!”  She often accused her son in law that he “Cheated” and she still beat him.

Mildred was fortunate to have lived a full life just five weeks shy of celebrating her 102nd birthday. She was still living in her original 1938 home with her little dog, family and caregivers providing round the clock care for the past two years.  She was still quite sharp at the end when she noticed that Comcast had gone up $1.97 on her bill, she proclaimed “there ain’t nothing on the ole TV she felt, worth that”!

The family would like to thank the Indian Head Vol. Fire Department for their recent support.  A special thank you to her devoted caregivers for the past two years.   

The family will receive friends on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 10 AM at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church (30 Mattingly Ave Indian Head, MD 20640).  Mass will follow at 11 AM, with interment immediately after at Trinity Memorial Gardens, Waldorf, MD.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Indian Head Vol. Fire Dept (4095 Indian Head Hwy; Indian Head, MD  20640) or St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, (30 Mattingly Ave, Indian Head, MD 20640).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Buckler Hodges, please visit our floral store.