Neva Lee (Hoskins) Dodson, 92, of Salina, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019 in the loving presence of family and the staff at Dignity Care Home of Salina, where she resided the past four and a half years.
Neva was born in Paradise, Kansas, on September 24, 1926 to Arthur and Elise (Larsen) Hoskins. She attended schools in Natoma and was an excellent student. Neva loved learning and was a lifelong learner, earning an associate degree from Barton County Community College and her insurance agent license in 1992.
Neva married the love of her life, Howard Dodson on October 5, 1943 before he left for WWII. She graduated from Natoma High School in 1944 and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until Howard returned. They moved to Russell in 1947 to be near the oil field boom. Howard preceded her in death after 55 years of marriage on January 17, 1999.
Neva was a homemaker, worked on the docks in Natoma for Union Pacific Railroad, manager of Parkside Trailer Park, sold for B.F. Goodrich, served as school secretary for Bickerdyke Elementary School, Louie Mai Oil Operations, United Service Insurance Agency and church secretary for her church, First Congregational Church. Neva loved her work, family and friends, traveling with Howard … always giving 110% to everything she did. She also served as a 4-H Leader and a caregiver to several sisters and her mother. In her later years, she moved to Salina to be near her children and families, living at Drury Place Retirement Apartments with her sister, Roberta Reh. Neva enjoyed many creative hobbies, but was best known for her artistic abilities. She shared her passion of art with her sister, Roberta, creating keepsakes & treasures for her family & friends with oils, water colors, chalk & colored pencil. During her final years of life, she was lovingly cared for by the staff of Dignity Care Home of Salina, with frequent visits by family and friends. Neva had a beautiful smile, twinkling blue eyes, and a giving and kind heart. Her family was her life and she was loved dearly.
Neva’s surviving family include her son, Bruce Dodson (Mary) of Burnsville, North Carolina; daughter, Libby Charvat (Larry) of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Tresia Dodson of Abingdon, Virginia; grandchildren, Laura Dodson-Pennington of Abingdon, Virginia, Alan Dodson (Kelley) of Seattle, Washington, Matt Charvat (Sarah) of Topeka, Kansas, granddaughter-in-law, Lana Charvat of Lindsborg, Kansas, and Amber Armstrong (Josh) of Salina, Kansas; great grandchildren, Sarah Pennington of Sylva, North Carolina, Mason, Carter, Lilly, Elliott and Grace Charvat all of Topeka, Kansas, Josie Charvat of Lindsborg, Kansas, Graham and Creighton Armstrong of Salina, Kansas, and Asher Dodson of Seattle, Washington; and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends that she loved unconditionally.
Neva was preceded in death by her parents; husband Howard Dodson; grandson, Nick Charvat; two brothers, Paul Hoskins and Harold Hoskins (Corinne); four sisters, Marie Marlow (John), Clio Wickham, Irene Kirby and Roberta Reh (Marion). Also her brothers and sisters by marriage, Hazel Harrell (Dick), Earl Dodson (Ila Mae), Helen Burger (Harold), Elma Lowder (Jack), Alice Whitman (Fritz) and Walter Dodson, (Elsie), grandson-in-law Kevin Pennington, many cousins and friends as well.
Celebration of Neva’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, April 5, 2019 at First Congregational Church of Russell. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Paradise, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, April 4, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Memorials have been established with First Congregational Church or Dignity Care Home. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.