Horace “Hod” Sidney Symes, Jr., 93, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026. He was born March 8, 1933, in Littleton, New Hampshire to Horace Symes of Wells River, Vermont, and Eva Roy of Quebec, Canada.

Hod spent his formative years in Wells River, Vermont, then he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1955, where he has attended every class reunion up to his 70th, last year. In 1956 he married Mabel Stirn of Queens, New York, his wife of 70 years, and soon they had their first son, Steve, then immediately served in the Army active duty stationed in Kasierslautern, Germany. Sons Greg, and Ron soon followed.

He began his business career in New York City, working for Mercantile Stores. It was in New York City where he met his future bride. He was transferred twice, first to Cincinnati, Ohio, then to Kansas City, Missouri for The Jones Store Company. He later began a long career as a clothing buyer for A.J. August Menswear in St. Joseph, Missouri where he relocated his family. During that time, he co-owned A.J.’s Wearhouse, a clothing store dedicated to younger clients. In St. Joseph he was very active in the community in Boy’s Baseball, Boys Scouts of America, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club, where he eventually rose to District Governor with Rotary International.

His primary hobby for decades has been family genealogy and New England town history. In 2012, Hod wrote and published “The ‘Cross-Road’: A History of Wells River, Vermont” the definitive book on his hometown. In his free time, he enjoyed golfing, travelling, the Boston Red Sox, and other, lesser, varieties of baseball. Mostly, Hod enjoyed family, and time spent with family.

Hod is preceded in death by three half-siblings, and he is survived by his wife, Mabel, sons Steve, Greg (Anne) and Ron (Christine); grandchildren Stuart, Eleanor (Sam), Abigail (Sean), and Alexandra; and great grandchildren, Hayes and Millie.

Funeral service to take place at the Wells River Congregational Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Messages of condolence, memories, and floral tributes may be left at Ricker Funeral Home prior to the service.