George C. Hodgson, 85, a longtime Chicago-area magazine salesman, died of complications of peritonitis Friday, May 10, in a hospital in Dunedin, Fla., where he had retired. Mr. Hodgson was born in Ontario. After the death of his father, Mr. Hodgson, then 6, and his mother moved to Cleveland. Mr. Hodgson earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and then served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Egypt during World War II. After his service, Mr. Hodgson returned to Cleveland and started working with a petroleum marketing magazine. It was the beginning of a 50-year career selling advertising for oil publications. “He knew a lot about oil and oil equipment, but his expertise was selling advertising space,” said his wife, Anne. Mr. Hodgson enjoyed the job for its travel and because it allowed him to work at home. Besides his wife of 51 years, he is survived by a son, Raymond; a daughter, Marianne Pankowski; and two grandchildren. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, with services at 10:30 a.m., in Hennessy-Bruno Chapel Hill Gardens West Funeral Home, 17W201 Roosevelt Rd., Oakbrook Terrace.
