Earl Martin Hedges

Earl Martin Hedges, 95, of Fort Wayne passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Towne House Retirement Center. Born November 4, 1920 in Bluffton, he was a son of the late Earl Hedges Sr. and Jessie (Aker) Castner. Earl proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945 and was a Sergeant with the Headquarters, 925th Engineer Aviation Regiment. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He received the European-African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with one Silver Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal. In 1943, while in Europe at a Christmas Eve dance, Earl met the love of his life, the late Ivy Lillian (Leigh) and they were married on June 24, 1944 in England. Earl was an Electrician with Pennsylvania Railroad/Conrail for 39 years from which he retired in 1980 and was also a member of the American Legion. He is survived by his daughters, Valerie (Greg) Relue of Tipp City, Ohio and Vivien (Len) Sparacino of Elmhurst, Illinois; grandchildren, Eliza Sparacino of Seattle, Washington and Todd (Abby) Relue of Indianapolis; great-grandchildren, Evie Relue and Teddy Relue. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Mae Shadle. Memorial Service will be Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 11:00am at Hockemeyer and Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Inurnment at a later date at Concordia Cemetery Gardens, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight of NE Indiana.