Tuesday, January 23, 2001
Donald W. Hedrick Sr.

Donald Wesley Hedrick Sr., 74, of Rockway Drive, died Monday morning, Jan. 22, 2001, at Sunbridge of Lexington.

The funeral will be held today at noon at Beulah United Church of Christ, where he was a member, by the Rev. Bruce Updike. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.

Mr. Hedrick was born Nov. 29, 1926, in Winston-Salem to James Edward Hedrick and Viola Elizabeth Johnson Hedrick. Following graduation from R.J. Reynolds High School, he served 2 1/2 years with the U.S. Navy Seabees during World War II. Following his military stint, he resumed work at the A&P Grocery in the dairy department, where he had worked as a bag boy from age 14 until joining the Navy.

He married Sarah Pardington of Winston-Salem in 1948, and went to work as manager of Food Fair. In 1955, he began working for Strictman Biscuit Co. in Lexington and retired from the Keebler Co., formerly the Strictman Biscuit Co., in 1986.

In 1974, he and his wife completed the 50 hours training in the first class to become telephone volunteers for the CONTACT Teleministries. From 1977-1978 and 1989-1990, he served as chairman of the board for CONTACT.

In 1988, Mr. Hedrick became a volunteer at Lexington Memorial Hospital after his wife went to work at the hospital and he saw a great need for volunteers. For the last three years, Mr. Hedrick was recipient of the hospital's "Most Hours Awards."

From 1988 through February 1992, he has given a total of 3,420 hours to the hospital. On Nov. 25, 1991, he received the Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and a N.C. "State of the Hearts" pin from Gov. Jim Martin.

Mr. Hedrick also served as a Companion Call Light Representative, which is the personal emergency response system the hospital provides to the elderly and shut-ins. He volunteered as the hospital Santa who visits the patients and sponsors the staff's children's party at Christmas.

He joined Beulah Church in Welcome in 1964, where he served as a deacon, an elder and chairman of the consistory and member of the choir and former chairman of the consistory. He served as a member of the Davidson County Rescue Squad for two years. He was preceded in death by a brother, Howard Daniel Hedrick; a sister, Ruth Addison; and a grandson, Wesley Shane Hedrick.

Surviving are his wife of the home; two sons, Donald Wesley "Rick" Hedrick Jr. and wife, Emily, and William Edward Hedrick and wife, Christy, all of Lexington; two daughters, Patricia Kathryn "Kathy" Hiatt and husband, Galen, of Lexington and Susan Elizabeth Morgan and husband, Tony, of Silver Valley; eight grandchildren, Bill Campbell, Stephanie Hedrick, Jessica Hedrick, Alysson Morgan, Sarah Young, Lindsey Hedrick, Robert Young and Jonathan Edward Hedrick; and a brother, James E. Hedrick Jr. of Lexington.

Memorials may be made to Beulah United Church of Christ, 2828 Arnold Road, Lexington, N.C. 27295.

Davidson Funeral Home is serving the family.

Copyright @2001 The Lexington Dispatch