Isabella Dodge

Isabella M. Dodge, 87, died peacefully in her sleep Dec. 9, 2009, in Anchorage at the home of her son.

Isabella was born Jan. 26, 1922, to Maurice and Edna (Moll) Wood in West Point, Pa.

She graduated from Lansdale High School, Lansdale, Pa., in 1939.

After attending business classes, she worked as an office manager for a Philadelphia company. She married her longtime sweetheart, F. Atlee Dodge, in 1945 in Miami, Fla., where he was stationed at rest camp during World War II.

In 1957, she moved from Washington state to Anchorage with her husband and three young sons. The family purchased a five-acre tract of land on O'Malley Road, where they all lent a hand building a log cabin from trees cut with a hand axe on the property. This site later would also become the location of the family-run aviation business F. Atlee Dodge Aircraft Services, specializing in Piper Cubs.

Isabella worked as a bookkeeper for Anchorage Cold Storage. While cheerfully working her day job, she was also serving as bookkeeper for the family business in her spare time. Later, after retiring from Anchorage Cold Storage, she worked full-time in the family business as bookkeeper and parts runner. Isabella became a familiar figure to the aviation community as she dashed around town delivering parts in her 1960s VW Karmann Ghia even in the worst weather.

She and her husband retired from the family business in 2005.

She enjoyed collecting antiques that were used to decorate the Dodge home in an Alaska motif. She had a special passion for collecting authentic custom-carved Alaska totem poles. These totem poles, which adorned the family property on O'Malley Road, became a favorite landmark for tourists.

Isabella was a loving wife and mother with a strong sense of family values. Simply said, she lived for her family, always putting the needs of her husband and sons before her own. Her peaceful nature and "live and let live" philosophy combined with advice such as, "Sometimes you just have to let things happen," and "Keep your chin up," made her an everlasting inspiration to her children.

She is survived by her husband, F. Atlee Dodge; son, Kim Dodge and his wife Gloria; daughter-in-law, Edweena Dodge Hartley; three grandchildren, Robert Dodge, Darla Dodge and Reni Dodge LeBard; and many great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Gladys Ehrhart of Doylestown, Pa., Madeline Lord of Melbourne, Fla., and Elsie Ervin of Palm Bay, Fla.; brother-in-law, George P. George and his wife Joanne of Big Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her two sons, Atlee R. Dodge and Shane B. Dodge; her beloved parents, Maurice and Edna (Moll) Wood; her brother, Albert Wood; and her mother-in-law, Eleanor R. Dodge.

Her family honored Isabella's wish for no funeral, service or flowers.

Her final resting place will be among the gravesites of her beloved sons, Atlee and Shane.

"Be like the bird; That, pausing in her flight; Awhile on boughs too slight; Feels them give way; Beneath her and yet sings; Knowing that she hath wings." -- Victor Hugo