Jean Hodges Becker
ROCK HILL, SC – Jean Hodges Becker, 96, died peacefully at her home. She was born June 7, 1926, in Center, KY, daughter of the late Herbert Hodges and the late Trudie Fraser Hodges.
Jean was raised on her parent’s farm in Metcalfe County, KY – a life which she loved. In high school, she played softball, was a cheerleader for the basketball team, president of the local 4-H club, and class valedictorian. She received her B.S. at Western KY State Teacher’s College (now WKU) and attended the University of Kentucky where she worked on her Master’s degree and received a degree in Medical Technology.
It was in Lexington, KY, where Jean met and married Harold C. Becker in 1953. They lived on Greenbriar Road for 64 years where they raised three children. She worked as a medical technologist until her retirement in 1991. She assisted with published research at the Lexington Clinic on antibiotics. Later, she worked for Dr. Frank Jenkins doing cytotoxic food allergy testing at his private ENT practice. Jean immensely enjoyed these jobs as she viewed her work as helping people to live healthier lives.
Along with work, Jean was an avid volunteer. She was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington where she served as both an elder and a trustee, taught Sunday school, oversaw the church library, and volunteered on Fridays with the church’s Meals on Wheels program up until she was 95 years old. Additionally, she was passionately involved in the P.E.O. Sisterhood where she served as president of the Kentucky State Chapter from 1972-1973. She was also a founding member of the neighborhood organization The Merry Wives of Greenbriar.
Jean is survived by two of her children, Lawrence Becker (Carol Kessler) of Dayton, KY, and Ellen Allinger (Gus) of Rock Hill, SC. She is also survived by her two nieces, Anne Foster Hodges (Sonny) and Nancy Steele (Glyndon), both of Center, KY. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Hal Becker; her son, Steven H. Becker; and her brother, Fraser Hodges.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 13, at 11:00 am ET at Second Presbyterian Church, 460 E. Main St., Lexington, KY, 40507, with visitation and a reception to follow in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations to Meals on Wheels should be sent to Second Presbyterian Church.
