Archie was the eighth of eleven children born to Josephine (Swartz) and James Blaine Hodges. His siblings were: Sarah Jane, James William, John Theodore, Erwine Phinney, Opal Zoe, Vernon DeLyle, Daisy Montana, Richard Eugene, Ernst Junior, and Verlene Josephine Hodges.

He lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Army on 12 September 1938 shortly before his 17th birthday. He served as an ambulance driver and Chaplain's Assistant during W.W.II, and spent most of his tour of duty stationed at Fort Winfield Scott at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. It was while he was a patient (appendectomy) in the Army hospital at the opposite side of the Golden Gate Bridge that he met his future bride, Doris Mae Blohme, who was a WAC stationed there at Fort Baker as a Lab Technician.

He and Doris were married just a few weeks later on 1 December 1944 in a military wedding conducted in the base chaplain's home in Marin County, California. He received an honorable discharge on 5 October 1945. They became the parents of two children: Priscilla Jane and Wayne Arthur; five grandchildren, and they had eleven great-grandchildren.

My father loved to go fishing and hunting; enjoyed playing cards (especially Pinochle and Canasta); liked to dance; enjoyed bird-watching; traveling; and was a "jack-of-all-trades".

He was a loving husband; kind and patient father; doting grand-father; good provider for his family; and someone you would have been proud to know and call your friend. He had a great sense of humor and was quite a practical joker. You would have liked him....everyone did!!!

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His Obituary which appeared in the May 20, 1986 issue of the Fairbury Journal-News states:
"Archie W. Hodges
Memorial services were conducted for Archie W. Hodges, 64, of St. Cloud, FL when cremains were interred June 20th afternoon in the Fairbury Cemetery.

The Rev. Sherry Skelnar officiated at the service for Mr. Hodges who died 3 Dec 1985 in St. Cloud.

The son of the late James B. and Josephine Hodges, he was reared in Fairbury. Hodges left Fairbury as a member of Company D of Fairbury, 110th Medical Regiment when the Company was called into active duty on Dec 4, 1940.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; son, Wayne; and daughter , Priscilla (Mrs. Grayson Shiver), four grandchildren, all of St. Cloud, FL; two brothers, John of Goodland, KS and Erwine of Folsom, CA; and a sister, Daisy Miller of Pocatello, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Jim, Vernon ("Doc"), Richard, and Ernst: Sisters, Sarah, Opal,and Verlene; and a grand-daughter, Georgette Doreene Evans."