Harold Hedgpeth

Harry had many careers in his life starting as a bus driver at the age of 15 before graduating from high school in Gatesville. He was a farmer, rancher, cowboy, construction worker and machine operator all before joining the Army Air Corps in 1943 at the age of 18.

From 1943 to 1945 he trained to be a fighter pilot at Buckley Field, AZ, Missoula, MT, Santa Ana, CA, Tulare, CA, Merced, CA and Luke Field in Arizona where he received his wings.

After the war he attended Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University and proceeded on his diverse career path where he worked in telephone line construction, on water well drilling and even spent some time crop dusting.

After becoming an Engineer he entered into the mining field where he settled for the remainder of his career living in Wyoming, Utah and finally Pennsylvania where he was President and CEO of a large coal mining operation. In 1988 he retired and came home to Texas and settled in Spring Branch.

Beyond his extensive career, he was also involved in community service and served on the boards of the Girl Scouts, the Geological Survey Advisory, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, Citizens Ambulance Service, Boy Scouts, United Way, Coal Producers Association, Pittsburg Mining Institute and was a proud Mason.

Both before and after retirement he had many interests and hobbies. He was an avid reader, enjoyed hunting, camping and fishing, golfing, history, geography, war history, gardening, air planes, horses and boating.

He traveled extensively throughout the United States visiting Civil War battle fields, historical sites, national parks and monuments, eventually fulfilling his goal of visiting all 50 states with an Alaskan cruise. Internationally he almost succeeded in visiting all 7 continents by reaching 5 of them.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Armo Tye and Laura Summerford Hedgpeth, his brother Denny Hedgpeth, sister Dorrice Hedgpeth Beck, nephew Zane Beck and grandson Glenn Sewell.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Anne McCaig Hedgpeth; three daughters, Holly Miller, Charlotte Hedgpeth, Laura Izay and son-in-law Steve Izay; grandchildren, Justin Miller, Devon Miller, Tamsin Vaccaro, Damon Vaccaro, Sarah Friesenhahn; and great grandchild, Aiden Gardner.

A graveside funeral service organized by Riley Funeral Home will be held at Live Oak Cemetery, Hamilton County on Friday October 4, 2019 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Live Oak Cemetery Association in care of H.J. Billingsley, 251 E. Brooks Dr., Evant, TX 76525