Dr. Richard Eli Hedrick, Sr.

Dr. Richard Eli Hedrick, Sr., age 90, passed away on November 28, 2010, eight days before his 91st birthday. Dr. Hedrick was born December 6, 1919, in Davidson County, North Carolina to the late Eli Harvey and Viola Tysinger Hedrick. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol Reid Hedrick, mother of his children; wife Rebecca Wall Hedrick; brothers, Nolan A. and M.W. Hedrick; and sister, Mary H. Griffin. Dr. Hedrick is survived by a sister, Rachel H. Hunt of Chesapeake, Virginia; daughter, Carol (Marti) H. Davis and son-in-law Anthony R. Davis of Richmond, Virginia, daughter, Charlene H. Reid and son-in-law Dr. C. Fredric Reid of Winston-Salem; and son, Dr. Richard E. Hedrick, Jr. and daughter-in-law Karen B. Hedrick, also of Winston-Salem. He also leaves behind his companion, Mary Ann Ferguson. Left to cherish his memory are grandchildren, Diane D. Gentry and husband Bill, Dr. Ashley D. Nichols and husband Jerry, Dr. C. Derek Reid and wife Allison, Carol R. Vaughan and husband Terry, Sarah H. Haynes and husband Chris, Jordan H. DeJong and husband Jared, Garrett R. Hedrick and Travis R. Hedrick. Dr. Hedrick is also survived by great-grandchildren, Laura Nichols, Lillian, Marilyn and Van Reid, Cora, Sophie and Aidan Vaughan and Beck Gentry. His ninth great-grandchild is expected in early March 2011. In addition, he is survived by stepchildren Kay W. Hoots and her husband the Reverend Brant Hoots, Don E. Wall and wife Patricia Wall, as well as step-grandchildren Eric and David Hoots and Blake, James and Drew Wall. Dr. Hedrick was educated in the Lexington, North Carolina public school system, graduating from Davis-Townsend High School in 1935. He received a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1939 and a medical degree from the University of South Carolina at Charleston in 1943. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Dr. Hedrick and Carol Reid were married. The couple spent 25 happy years together until her death from cancer at age 49. In 1945, he completed an internship and residency at City Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem. During 1946, Dr. Hedrick served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and the following year, opened a general medical practice in Walkertown, North Carolina. In 1953, he began an OB-GYN and general surgery practice on West Fifth Street in Winston-Salem where he practiced until his retirement in 1986. During this period, Dr. Hedrick delivered 6,012 babies and was instrumental in the founding of Winston-Salem's Medical Park Hospital, which opened in 1962. Dr. Hedrick was a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Abdominal Surgeons and the Forsyth County Medical Association. He was also a member and past president of the Twin-City Lions Club. Dr. Hedrick was an avid gardener, fisherman and world traveler. His culinary skills were a delight to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who treasured his barbequed ribs, fried fish and homemade potato chips! His gentle, caring manner and easy sense of humor touched many lives and he will be missed by all who knew him. Dr. Hedrick's family is grateful for the care provided to him by the staffs of Forsyth Medical Center and The Oaks at Forsyth. The family also wishes to extend special appreciation to Tanya Covington, Elizabeth Arreola and Lisa Moore who cared for Dr. Hedrick so devotedly during the last two years of his life and to roommate Errol Hunt for his compassion and good humor. A celebration of life service will be held at Maple Springs United Methodist Church at 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 with Dr. Terry Mathews and the Rev. Anne Elmore officiating. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, New York 10087 in memory of Dr. Hedrick's late wife, Carol Reid Hedrick, or to Senior Services, Inc. 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Memorials:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, New York 10087 in memory of Dr. Hedrick's late wife, Carol Reid Hedrick, or to Senior Services, Inc. 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105

Service:
Service at 12:00pm on December 1, 2010 at Maple Springs United Methodist Church