Sharlene Atkinson Hodges passed away at Swedish Hospital in Seattle at 5 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Sharlene was a noted educator and philanthropist who loved to read about religion and politics, tend her garden, care for her many cats, collect dolls, and discuss politics with intelligence and vigor.

Sharlene was born Sharlene Atkinson, the first child of Kenneth and Sigfina Atkinson, on Oct. 5, 1925 in Whittier, Calif.

She graduated from Whittier High School in 1943 and from Whittier College in 1947, with a major in education. She taught in the public school systems in Whittier and in San Francisco before marrying.

On Oct. 8, 1949, Sharlene married Fred Seely Hodges, then a major in the Army Air Force Reserve. He was a former member of the Flying Tigers during the early years of the Chinese Conflict. She traveled with him to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1950 as part of his diplomatic posting. While living in Brazil, she gave birth to two of her three sons, Peter Britt and Robert Kenneth. Her third son, John Richard, was born in Virginia after the family returned to the United States in 1954, following Fred’s transfer to the Pentagon.

Sharlene and Fred raised their three sons together and the family moved as Fred’s military career took them from Richmond, Virginia to Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas with stops at Travis and Beale Air Force bases in California, and Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas. Following Fred’s retirement in 1966, the family relocated to Orangevale, Calif.

In 1968, Sharlene resumed her career in education, teaching fourth grade. For 15 years, she was a popular and admired teacher at the Dry Creek Elementary School in Roseville, Calif. Before retiring in 1984, Sharlene had motivated and inspired hundreds of young students.

In keeping with her generous nature, Sharlene spent more than a decade volunteering for the Assistance League of Sacramento. She helped organize the creation of the Assistance League Thrift Store. To this day, the thrift store generates an income that supports a variety of valuable programs for the citizens of Sacramento.

Sharlene moved to Langley in 2002 to live near her son Robert and his family.

She immediately became active in her new community, especially the Whidbey Children’s Theater. Sharlene channeled her love for children and enthusiasm for theatre into consistent support for WCT. Her involvement played a key role in Whidbey Children’s Theater ability to create a home for its young actors and sustain its well-regarded role in the community. In recognition of her contributions, a memorial scholarship fund has been created in her honor.

Sharlene was preceded in death by her husband Fred (1976) and is survived by her brother, Robert Atkinson, and her three sons, Peter, an insurance executive in New York City, Robert, a glass artist in Langley, (Peggy Juve) and John, an engineer in Huntsville, Ala. (Scarlett), as well as three granddaughters Whitney, Aubrey, and Kate Hodges.

In a last act of giving, Sharlene donated her body to the Willed Body program at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

A memorial service is planned at St. Augustine’s Church in Freeland at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

The family asks that no flowers be sent, but donations may be made in Sharlene’s honor to WCT.