The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2008

Comforts, that specialized in animal- related products. In 2005, the Hodgsons moved to Cornwall, Vt., where she pursued her interest in music and indulged her love of nature, history and genealogy. Friends remember Mrs. Hodgson as fun-loving, endlessly curious, gutsy and beautiful. Her final resting place will be at the Hodgson family plot in Dover, Mass. Her family would like to acknowledge the care and dedica- tion of Hospice and the Wellspring Singers. Mrs. Hodgson’s earlier marriage to Robin Porter of Wickford, R.I., ended in divorce. She was predeceased by her par- ents, Reginald and Edna Eagles, and her beloved brother, Harrison. She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Richard Hodgson; her four children: Carl Porter of Longmont, Colo., Christopher Porter of New York, N.Y., Sarah Bell of Peace Dale, R.I., and William Porter of Shoreham, Vt.; and four grandchildren, Lily and Rosy Bell, Christopher Porter and Beatrice Porter. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Jenni Brady of Med- field, Mass., and Heather DePaola of Dover, Mass.; two stepgrandchilden, Zack Brady and Mckinlee DePaola; her brother, Sandy Eagles of LaVerne, Calif.; her sister, Joan Webb of Cor- tez, Fla.; and many nieces and neph- ews. Gifts in her memory can be sent to Hospice Volunteer Services of Addi- son County, P.O. Box 772, Middle- bury VT 05753, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the National Wildlife Federation. Barbara M. Johnson , 76, a re- tired Foreign Service consular officer, died from ovarian cancer on Feb. 2 at Springhouse Assisted Living in Beth- esda, Md., where she had resided for several months. Born and raised in New Bedford, Mass., Ms. Johnson later attended Dillard University in New Orleans and Columbia University in New York City. She worked for Con Edison in New York City from 1955 to 1963. In 1963, Ms. Johnson joined the Foreign Service. Her first overseas posting was to Bangkok. Subsequent assignments took her to Brussels, Copenhagen, Saigon, Port of Spain, Kinshasa, Fort-de-France, Lima, Freetown, Dar es Salaam, Hamilton and Accra. She returned to Washing- ton, D.C., to retire in 1996. Ms. Johnson’s love of travel did not wane after retirement, and she con- tinued to accept short, challenging When Actually Employed consular assignments from 1997 to 2002 in Accra, Jeddah, Bahrain, Sanaa, Am- man, Sofia, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The tales from her many assign- ments could fill a book. Friends recall one memorable story from her time in Bukavu, a remote consulate in Zaire. She was called upon to courier mail on long and arduous trips over rough terrain from one African country to another. Longing for fresh fruit and vegetables, she would pay as much as $10 for a single apple when she could find one. She often spoke of the nat- ural beauty of Africa, a sad downside to which was the sight of beautiful ele- phants killed by poachers for their ivory. Ms. Johnson had maintained a res- idence in Washington, D.C., since the 1970s, where she enjoyed getting together with friends and trying new or exotic cuisines. She also enjoyed playing golf and attending the sym- phony at the Kennedy Center. An avid walker, she explored many differ- ent areas of the city, often hiking all the way to Arlington Cemetery from her home. She volunteered at Arena Stage and at the Washington Home, where she visited many patients and friends. Although she did not own an ani- mal at the time of her death, she adored her friends’ dogs, horses, cats and exotic birds, spoiled them with treats, and never hesitated to pet-sit whenever asked. Throughout her travels Ms. John- son made many friends of all national- ities. She had godchildren in Africa, Denmark and the United States. FS colleagues recall Ms. Johnson as very efficient and competent, but also as a compassionate consular officer who mentored many young Foreign Service officers. Although she leaves no immediate survivors, Ms. Johnson is remem- bered by the many friends whom she touched in very special ways. Wallace Edward Keiderling , 77, a retired FSO with USIA, died of complications from a stroke and arte- riosclerosis on April 9 in Cocha- bamba, Bolivia. Born in Westfield, N.J., Mr. Keider- ling served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1949. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1954 and received a master’s degree from the University of Florida in 1962. Mr. Keiderling was sent as a trainee to the Binational Center in Cochabamba in 1962 and became its director two years later. There he met his wife, the former María del Rosario “Charo” Soruco, whom he courted with rides on his bicycle. Colleagues recall his carting Lake Titicaca reed boats over the mountains to Cocha- bamba and playing “wallyball” and basketball with Mr. Keiderling during those years. 82 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 8 I N M E M O R Y u u u