Sharon Carole Hodge, 73, Glasgow
George Rooney, 64, Glasgow
Willa S. Taylor, Glasgow
Sharon Carole Hodge
Sharon Carole Hodge
Sharon Carole Hodge, 73, of Glasgow died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Born Sept. 3, 1950, she was a daughter of the late William Ralph Hodge and Mary Frances Strode Hodge Hagan.
She is survived by one brother, Ray Hodge; one sister: Vivian Joann Hodge Bybee; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne and Kermit Hodge, and one sister, Barbara Hodge Burris.
Funeral is at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, with cremation planned for later. Visitation is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
George Rooney
George Rooney
George Rooney, 64, of Glasgow died Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Born Nov. 9, 1959, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was a son of the late Bernard and June Rooney.
He began his professional education at Indiana University School of Optometry, followed by his Fellowship in Ocular Disease in New Orleans. He is the past center director of Azar Medivision Medical and Surgical Eye Center of New Orleans. His certifications include those from the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and the International Association of Boards and Examiners in Optometry. He also attained the prestigious status of Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry.
He was affiliated with many professional societies such as the Kentucky Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He lectured extensively in the United States on ocular disease diagnosis and treatment. He held several adjunct professorships with colleges of optometry for internship training. He not only served on the board (previously president) of His Servants Ministries, he was also a very active participant. He would travel often to many countries including, but not limited to, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Thailand and Laos. While there, he engaged in evangelism, teaching and leading others to faith in Christ. As a further testament to his character, he selflessly provided free eye care to the people he encountered on his missionary journeys.
For the past 33 years, he was actively associated with McPeak Vision Partners in Glasgow. He has also served on the Medical Executive Board at Eyecare Partners, has been an active volunteer at Barren River Animal Welfare Association and was an active member of his church. He cherished his wife, daughter, co-workers and patients, not to mention his beloved dogs Blaky, Boris and Marco.
He is survived by his wife, Lilly; his daughter, Katherine Klein; and his parents-in-law, Ruth and Lawrence Doughty.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Patrick Rooney, and three canine companions, Tiffany, Willybear and Willow.
Funeral service is at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home and live-streamed on the funeral home Facebook page, with later cremation planned. Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and continues Friday until time for service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to His Servants Ministries, P.O. Box 461, Ferguson, KY 42533.
Willa Taylor
Willa Taylor
Willa S. Taylor of Glasgow died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Glasgow. She and her husband Johnnie opened Taylor & Taylor Real Estate in 1952 and, after Johnnie’s death in 1976, Willa continued in the business serving as principal broker for the company until her retirement in 2007.
She was an active member of the Glasgow-Barren County Board of Realtors and was also a member of the Kentucky Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. Willa received the Realtor Associate Award in 1979 and served as president of the local association in 1980. She was the recipient of the association’s highest honor, Realtor of the Year, in 1980 and again in 1998. During her service to the association, she served as president-elect, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Every year, she would volunteer her time and service to serve on the various committees of the association and, in 1994, she received the Tommy Sabens Distinguished Service Award for her service to the association.
She was a member of the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce. She was a charter member of the Ambassadors Club and voted Ambassador of the Year in 1987. She served as chairman of the Community Improvement Committee, which developed the Barren County Rural Firefighters Network and for this effort received the chamber Community Development Award in 1984. She received the chamber Athena Award in 1991.
She was appointed by then-Mayor Charles B. Honeycutt to the Glasgow housing and appeals board where she served for several years. She also served on the board of the Housing Authority of Glasgow Community Development Agency for over 20 years.
She was a charter member of the Glasgow Business and Professional Women’s Club and was named Woman of Achievement by the Younger B&PW Club in 1979. She served as president of the younger club in 1981. She also served as editor of the Kentucky Cardinal Magazine, which was the state federation B&PW publication in 1989-1990.
She was a member of the Barren County Republican Women’s Club for many years and served in various leadership roles and on various committees. She also served as secretary of the Barren County Republican Party. She was also a longtime member of the First Christian Church of Glasgow.
Survivors include a son, John W. Taylor and wife Berna of Bowling Green; two grandchildren, Ashley Taylor and Grant Taylor, both of Bowling Green; a brother, Ed Smith of Glasgow; a daughter-in-law, Ann Simmons of Frankfort; two nieces, Lisa Smith Holman of Bowling Green and Becky Smith Kingrey of Glasgow; and two stepnieces, Patti Broom of Louisiana and Kathy England of Glasgow.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Woodrow W. Simmons and Johnnie W. Taylor; a son, Woodrow “Woody” Simmons; a brother, Ray John Smith; and a grandson, Jon Brandon Taylor.
Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, with a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to College Heights Foundation at Western Kentucky University or the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library.
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