Ernest Francis "Frank" Hedgepath

COLUMBIA Ernest Francis “Frank” Hedgepath, 94, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 7, 2014, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the burial at the home of Charles and Miriam Hedgepath. Born September 20, 1920, in Columbia, he was the oldest son of Ernest Hedgepath and Ethel Marie Sanders Hedgepath. He was predeceased in 2008 by his devoted wife of 64 years, Margaret Rose Hudson Hedgepath. He was a 1937 graduate of Columbia High School. He enrolled in The University of South Carolina and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. In 1943, while completing his hours at The University of South Carolina, he entered the service and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Yale University. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Force. Mr. Hedgepath served in North Africa and Italy with the 5th Photo Recon Squadron which was attached to the 15th Army Air Force. Upon his return from WWII, he received his diploma from the University of South Carolina. He began his career as an engineer with Kline Iron and Steel Company in Columbia, S.C. He assisted in the erection of the giant moving crane that occupied the site at Kline for many years. Then, Mr. Hedgepath worked for Colonel Elliott Springs at the headquarters of Springs Cotton Mills in Lancaster, S.C. In 1952, he moved to Greensboro, N.C. to work at Truitte Manufacturing Company where he designed the first foot-bridge crossing Grandfather Mountain. In 1962, Mr. Hedgepath returned to Columbia as Chief Engineer at Congaree Iron and Steel Company. He was later named Executive Vice President and then President. In 1971, he moved to Florence, S.C. as Chief Engineer at Vulcraft where he remained until his retirement in 1985. After retirement Mr. Hedgepath served on the Nucor Credit Union Board serving many years as Vice-Chairman, and he assisted with the design of the Nucor Rolling Steel Mill in Darlington. Mr. Hedgepath was a South Carolina registered professional engineer for over fifty years. He was a past director of the Steel Joist Institute and also assisted the Engineering Practices Committee. A lifelong Episcopalian, while in Columbia he served on the Vestries of St. Timothy and Chapel of the Cross. He was a member of the Florence Golden K Kiwanis Club. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will always remember “Gran Gran” for his wit, storytelling, and abundance of love for his family. He always fascinated the family with tales of his childhood escapades and his experiences during WWII. To them, Mr. Hedgepath was truly a member of the Greatest Generation. Surviving are his children, Charles Ernest Hedgepath (Miriam) of Columbia, Nancy Elizabeth Hedgepath Smith, of Columbia, William Francis Hedgepath (Cindy) of Marietta, Ga., and Susan Elaine Hedgepath (Preston Amy) of Longmont, Co.; grandchildren, Tricia Hedgepath Rogers, Birley Hedgepath Wright, Charles Ernest Hedgepath, Jr., Ashley Rose Smith Conk, Matthew Frank Smith, Amy Hedgepath Sutton, Lisa Ann Hedgepath, Caroline Nicole Amy and Forrest Robert Amy; great-grandchildren, Perry Lynn Wright, Margaret Baylis Wright, Elizabeth Frances Conk, Alexander Timothy Conk, Katherine Rose Sutton, and Emily Rochelle Sutton; and his younger brother, Jack Lewis Hedgepath. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was predeceased by his younger sister, Ann Marie Hedgepath Corbett. His family would like to thank the staff of Hall 300 at NHC, Parklane for their compassion and loving care of “Gran Gran” for more than six years. Memorial may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church Shandon, 2827 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC 29205. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.