Porter P. Hodgdon Sr.

Porter P. Hodgdon Sr. SWANTON, Vt. — Porter P. Hodgdon Sr., age 83, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Swanton. He was born in Orleans on May 15, 1938, to the late Porter and Reba (Lumbra) Hodgdon. Porter and his brothers started Hodgdon Brothers on May 15, 1956, in Ascutney, Vermont. At that time, they were the first and only car crushers in the entire state. In the early 1970s, Porter moved the business to Swanton and it has been a staple of the area ever since. Porter would eat, sleep, and breath the business, but he always made a point to take time for his family. He was surely a family man through and through. Porter was a successful businessman. His top priorities were always his family, community members in need, and Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. Porter had been working as a professional gambler for the past 20 years and made daily trips to the casino. He enjoyed his trips to the casino with Ronny Bruyette, his Florida trips with Ronny Raine, watching his “lawn boy,” Chipper Robinson, and spending time with his good friend, Charlie Cowdrey. Porter will be remembered for his generosity, and for being the jokester and life of every party. Porter leaves behind his wife, Donna L. (Cowdrey) Hodgdon, of Swanton; his children, Cindy Morris and her husband, Richard “Dick,” of Swanton, Jason Hodgdon and his wife, Sharae, of Swanton, Mary Hodgdon, of Swanton, and Brian Pion, of Berkshire; Donna’s sons, George and Scott Gould; 13 grandchildren, Bobbi-Jo Hodgdon, Jake Hodgdon, Candace Cadieux, Katie Rushlow, Amanda Sanborn, John Sanborn Jr., Kayla Rochleau, Brittney Barr, Taylor Hodgdon, Morgan Hodgdon, Derek Hodgdon, Nicholas Pion and Brendan Deso; 11 great-grandchildren, Michael Stowe, Damon Bruyette, Kaylee Sweet, Shelby Cadieux, Lexi Hodgdon, Veronyka Hodgdon, Jamesyn Hodgdon, Ciara Crandell, Natalie Barr, Ivy Rose Stanley and Waylon Lagrow; sisters-in-law, Lillian Hodgdon, of Claremont, New Hampshire, and Sandy Hodgdon, of Gainesville, Florida; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Porter was predeceased by his children, Elmer Hodgdon and his wife, Donna M., and Porter “Kojak” Hodgdon Jr.; and all of his siblings, Allie Hodgdon and his wife, Norma, Albert “Dick” Hodgdon, Narlene Turgeon and her husband, Robert “Monk,” Esther Miles and her husband, Art, Darcy Hodgdon, Lynda Downing and her husband, Martin, and Dewey Hodgdon. Porter’s family would like to thank everyone who cared for him over the past few years, especially his granddaughter, Katie Rushlow, and Crystal Dubie. Friends and family are invited to Porter’s Life Celebration to include visitation on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, from 3-7 p.m. at the Goss Life Celebration Homes, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, VT 05488. Porter’s family requests that you come as you are because Porter wasn’t fancy. For those who wish, contributions in Porter’s memory may be made to the Swanton Food Shelf, 65 Canada St., Swanton, VT 05488; or to Swanton Recreation, P.O. Box 332, Swanton, VT 05488. Goss Life Celebration Homes is the area’s exclusive provider of Life Celebration events. Please visit our website to share condolences, photos and favorite memories at www.gossfs.com