Hoge Jr., James Otey

James (Jay) Otey Hoge, Jr., 63, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away at his home on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. He was born on August 2, 1944 to James Otey Hoge and Marian Barnett Hoge.

He was descended from a long line of prominent Southwest Virginia families such as the Kents, McGavocks and Cloyds.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Carol Flynn Hoge; his son, James Tyler Otey Hoge; and four stepchildren, David Flynn, Julie Flynn Ligon, Sean Patrick Flynn and Jud Christopher Flynn.

Jay held degrees from VA Tech from which he graduated 1st in his class in 1966, Harvard University and the University of Virginia. He taught in the English Department at the University of Georgia from 1970 to 1975 and came to VA Tech in 1975. He became a Full Professor at Tech and taught Victorian Literature, Romantic Literature and a variety of other courses. His literary accomplishments include, Editor of the Letters of Emily Lord Tennyson, Lady Tennyson’s Journal, Literary Reviewing, The Diaries of James Armistead Otey and Co-Editor of The Letters of Caroline Norton to Lord Melbourne.

While at VA Tech he was Co-Editor and then Editor of the literary journal, Review, for twenty five years. Near the end of his career at VA Tech he established the Hilbert H. Campbell scholarship which is given annually to a deserving undergraduate English major. Jay was a long time member of the VA Tech German Club in which his mother and father were also prominently involved.

He served on the Smithfield Plantation Board of Directors and was involved in many other community projects. He granted easements to the Sunnyside-Toms Creek Veterans Association and the Brush Mountain Miners Association, both of which erected memorials on his land.

Jay was a caring, giving and a most distinguished gentleman and will be missed dearly by all his family and friends. He will be remembered for his generous gifts and his loyalty to his family and community. Jay and his wife, Carol, have been long-time animal lovers and care givers to many unwanted animals over the years and they currently are members of Animal Hope Alliance. The family would like donations in Jay’s memory to be sent to Animal Hope Alliance, P.O. Box 237, Blacksburg, Va. 24063.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg. Interment will follow in Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg, Va.