George Hodnichak

George Hodnichak Jr., 86, passed away Friday, April 12, 2013 at Akron City Hospital after a brief illness.
George was born May 25 or 26, 1926 to George and Helen (Benca) Hodnichak, Sr. in Akron and was an Akron resident his entire life. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church Jednota Branch 553, Slovak Garden, VFW Post 3383, and the 19th Bombardment Association.
George was a veteran of the Army Air Corp during WWII and the Air Force during the Korean War. The military turned into a career as he became a full-time member of the Army Reserve. His specialties were communications and electronics and retired in 1986 at the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8).
George was volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster of St. Paul Troop 81 beginning in 1986 and he had the pleasure of seeing his three sons and three grandsons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He became a District Commissioner and served as a merit badge counselor until recently. He received the Silver Beaver and Bronze Pelican Awards from the BSA and the St. George and Pious XII awards through his work on the BSA religious emblem committee in conjunction with the CYO. He was a proud member of the Scouting Old Timers.
George was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary (nee Caruso) in 2000; siblings John (Alice), Joe and Michael Hodnichak and Joanne Saunders; daughter-in-law Sheila Hodnichak and brother-in-law Jerry Caruso and is survived by his children George, James (Dina), Michael and Cheryl Hodnichak; in-laws Nolan (June) Caruso, Dorothy Hodnichak and Fran Caruso; grandchildren Josh, Adam and Nathan Hodnichak; step grandchildren Sherie Harris, and Shellie, Charles and James Tennant; 7 great step grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Thursday 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 Pm at the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St. Akron. Funeral services will be Friday 10:30 Am at the funeral home followed by the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 Am at St. Paul Catholic Church 1580 Brown St. Akron, Ohio 44301. Donations may be made to the Boy Scouts at www.gtcbsa.org, St. Paul Church or the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org (Anthony Akron, 330.724.1281, anthonyfh.com)