Ronald Elwyn Hedrick

1923 – 2015

RONALD ELWYN HEDRICK, 92, died June 9, 2015 in

Spokane, Washington. He was born February 24, 1923 in

Chicago, Illinois, to John Chaney and Marie Bertha

(Johnson) Hedrick. He was one of four children. His

parents moved the family to Wichita, Kansas, where he

spent most of his childhood. He graduated from Wichita

East High School in 1942. In 1943 Ronald joined the Army

Air Corps during WWII. He discharged in 1945 and

continued in the Reserves. In 1950, he graduated from

Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Ronald met the love of his life on a blind date while in

Tampa, Florida. He married “the nicest girl [he’d] ever

met,” Connie Banks, on May 12, 1945. They had two

children and lived in many places including Japan.

Ron was recalled for the Korean War, and stayed in the

United States Air Force to become a decorated officer and

pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and

the Air Medal with three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. His

flying career spanned four decades, took him all over the

world, and included piloting the B-17, B-25, C-124, RB-45,

B-47, T-33, and most significantly the U-2. His career

culminated in his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After he retired from the USAF, Ron successfully

undertook many other ventures, with Connie by his side,

including real estate sales, house building, church

activities, golfing, sailing, and photography. They loved to

travel and enjoyed nature. Their last move was to

Spokane, Washington to be near family. They were

together for seventy years.

Ronald died after a short illness and is survived by his

wife, a daughter and a son, two grandchildren, and two

great grandchildren.

He taught his family the values of honesty, hard work,

faith, and contributing to community. He was dedicated to

America and the freedoms it afforded. He loved his

family, was grateful for the many blessings of his life, and

was one of those people who truly lived life to the fullest.

He is very missed.

Ronald was buried with military honors at the Washington

State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Medical Lake,

Washington.