Richard Forrest Hodges passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024, at his Kirkwood home.

Preceded in death by his mother, Arline Hodges, sister, Susan Jones, and brother-in-law and surrogate father, Wes Jones.

He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He led a life marked by a profound love of family, friends, community, and country. Survived by his beloved wife, Donna Hodges (Simon); daughters: Lori Hodges Kew (David Kew), Cheri Markum, Sarah Ariel Smith-Simon; and grandchildren: Taran (Nurunnisa) Zahra and Bodhi Forrest Simon. He will be missed by brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

He served in the US Navy during Vietnam on the USS Lexington, where he developed lifelong friendships with his comrades.

Richard was a voracious learner with a deep interest in many subjects. It was said that there was hardly a subject about which he did not have some knowledge. He was fun-loving and enjoyed fishing, Cardinal Baseball, and Blues Hockey.

Richard began searching early for a deeper meaning and understanding of life. Through his involvement and training with the Solar Yoga Center of St. Louis and the Universal Great Brotherhood, he established a lifelong foundation of tolerance, truth, and peace. He recognized that divine love is the foundation of every religion and the very core of a peaceful human heart. He was a true mystic, fascinated by various spiritual and mindfulness practices. He taught yoga and supported the Shining Waters Ashram in Fredericktown, MO, where he participated in many Native American ceremonies and traditions.

Richard loved all types of music, from the Beatles, Dave Matthews, and Waylon Jennings to Deva Premal, Krishna Das, and Andrea Bocelli. His amazing memory and extensive repertoire of songs and dances from many spiritual traditions allowed him to lead the Dance of Universal Peace in the Sufi Ruhaniat tradition.

He loved the poetry of Rumi and Hafiz, and the insights of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Paramahansa Yogananda, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chödrön, the Dalai Lama, Osho, Sayagi U Ba Khin, and especially S. N. Goenka.

Richard found his spiritual center through his 40 years of devoted practice in Vipassana meditation, a practice that brought an experiential understanding of how mind and body interact.

Professionally, Richard worked as an upholsterer, bringing the same meticulous care to his craft as he did to his spiritual and personal pursuits.

Richard became part of a unique community 13 years ago when he received a bilateral lung transplant. While most people would describe this as a medical hardship, Richard saw it as an opportunity. He dedicated much of his time to providing support to other transplant patients in the early stages of their journey. These patients came to the hospital with fear in their eyes, and Richard greeted them with his warm smile. His power of communication and vulnerability allowed patients to connect with him and leave his presence feeling comforted and understood. Richard’s contribution as a volunteer and mentor with Barnes Jewish Hospital’s transplant team was deeply impactful. He won awards for his service, including the “Friends of Social Work” award, honoring his commitment to this community. Richard always remembered his time as a volunteer as the most meaningful and important work of his life. His gratitude was so deep that he found it beyond words. Special thanks to Kirstin, Rebecca, Jocelyn, and Erin.

He will always be remembered for his sage advice and his unwavering desire to support his friends and family in their own journeys. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of meditation and encouraging others to adopt a daily practice.

At the end of his life, Richard drew on his years of meditation to consciously enter the dying process, generating a deeply peaceful exit from his body. For those of us privileged to be with him in his last hours, there is no doubt about the reality of God’s Divine Love.

A Memorial Celebration will be held on

Saturday, November 9, 2024

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The Center for Divine Love

3617 Wyoming St. (near Grand Ave.)

St. Louis, Missouri 63116

January Keifer, Officiant

Please join the family for Visiting & Refreshments immediately following the ceremony from :

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Off-street parking is available, carpooling recommended.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Mid-America Transplant

American Parkinson Disease Association Missouri Chapter

Richard’s family to build a memorial garden and pagoda in his honor.