Audrey Hodgins (87) of Urbana died at 7am on Monday, July 18, 2016, at home.

Audrey Hodgins was born Dec. 8, 1928, at Big Bend, Wisconsin, a daughter of S. J. and Elsie Holz Salentine. She married Francis (Frank) E. Hodgins on Feb. 2, 1952, at Storrs, Conn. Their strong, loving partnership ended in 1996 when Frank died.

Surviving are a daughter, Jessica Hodgins, and a son-in-law, Christopher Atkeson, of Pittsburgh. She was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Klumb, and a brother, Edward Salentine.

Audrey Hodgins graduated from Beloit College and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut in 1952. She was a teacher for many years in Lansing, Mich., and in Champaign -- working with early childhood learning programs and teaching at Parkland College. She also worked at NCTE for several years before becoming a technical editor at the Illinois Natural History Survey.

She wrote numerous articles that were published in literary, scientific, and education journals. After retirement she served as a volunteer teacher at the Adult Education Center.

After she and Frank retired they took great pleasure in traveling widely, an activity Audrey continued following Frank's death, completing the wish list they had compiled. Among her great adventures were trips to Ankor Watt, Machu Pichu, Morocco, and Egypt. Audrey also took several extended teaching trips to China and Romania where she lived in rough conditions.

All who knew Audrey remember with pleasure the wonderful food served at her generous table. First and foremost among the memorable offerings were her pies, especially apple, cherry, blueberry, and pecan -- quite simply the best pies ever made. Flaky bottom crust as well as flaky top crust.

Audrey was an omnivorous reader and will be remembered for her intelligence, insight, organizational skills, and care and concern for others.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Frank Hodgins Fellowship Fund for graduate students in English, University of Illinois Foundation, Harker Hall, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL., to the Urbana Public Library, or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. There will be no memorial service.