Arthur J. Hodgen

Thursday, January 14, 2010

WILTON – Arthur J. Hodgen, 94, of Wilton, died Wednesday Jan. 6, 2010, at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. The son of Arthur W. and Mary (Stanton) Hodgen, he was born Aug. 17, 1915, in Wilton, and lived there most of his life. He was predeceased by his sister Catherine in 1976.

Mr. Hodgen graduated from Wilton High School in 1934. He worked at General Electric in Lynn, Mass., making parts for the first jet airplane engines during World War II; at Abbott Machine in Wilton; and then at Sanders in Nashua for more than 20 years as a machinist.

Mr. Hodgen built his home in Wilton and moved his family there in 1948. He started Sno-Pak kennels and raised Alaskan Malamutes for more than 60 years, raising dogs that went to Antarctica for Operation Deep Freeze in 1957, and many champion show dogs.

Mr. Hodgen was a charter member and on the Board of Directors of the Alaskan Malamute Club of America. He operated the Twin Tows Ski Area in Milford with his best friend from childhood, John MacDonald, from 1947-67. He was an avid skier for most of his life, and often hiked to Tuckerman Ravine, even in his 80s. He was known for his large vegetable garden, and made his own maple syrup into his 90s. He and his wife of 69 years, H. Natalie Hodgen, traveled annually for many years to ski in Europe, and were known as great travelers and excellent hosts.

Mr. Hodgen is survived by his wife, H. Natalie (Wickens), whom he met in Wilton in 1934 at a winter carnival ball. He is also survived by his children David, of Goffstown; Peg Hatfield, of Milford; and Peter and his wife Sue, of North Augusta, S.C.; grandchildren Meredith Hatfield, of Concord; Matthew Hatfield and his wife Erin, of Amherst; Jennifer Robinson and her husband David, of Los Angeles; Jillian Bodoff and her husband Matthew, of E. Greenwich, R.I.; Jeffrey Hodgen, of Worcester, Mass.; and great-grandchildren Crew Hatfield, of Amherst and Neve Bodoff, of E. Greenwich.

Funeral services were held on Jan. 11 at St. Patrick’s Church, Milford. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wilton, in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SHARE, 1 Columbus Ave/, Milford NH 03055 or at www.sharenh.org, or to Alaskan Malamute Rescue of New England, P.O. Box 558, Brimfield, MA 01010 or at www. amrone.org.

Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford, is handling arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.