Erma B. Headrick

Erma was educated in a one-room schoolhouse in Edgar, Nebraska. She graduated from High School in 1934. After her mother, Zelda Beck, died, Erma lived with her oldest sister, Grace Jodar whose husband was beginning his Medical practice in Detroit, Michigan.

Erma worked in Dr. Jodar's office as an assistant and soon decided to become a nurse. She enrolled in the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit, graduating as an RN in 1940. During her time there, she saw Henry Ford many times, as he regularly inspected the hospital and the nursing program.

Erma's sister Grace had a pen-pal in East Tennessee named Sally Adams. Mrs. Adams had a younger brother, Ralph. Through this connection, Erma met Ralph in 1940 and they were married in Detroit on Sept. 3, 1941. Erma and Ralph lived together as husband and wife for 67 years until his death on Sept. 30, 2008.

Mr & Mrs. Ralph Headrick began their married life in Tennessee. He worked for Alcoa Aluminum Co. and she was a nurse in the local hospital. One Sunday morning in December, RN Erma Headrick was on duty caring for a deputy sheriff with 17 shotgun wounds in his chest, inflicted by an unrepentant moonshiner. She heard some commotion down the hallway and a loud radio broadcast. Investigating, she learned that Japan had attacked our naval base at Pearl Harbor, and we were at war.

Ralph enlisted in the Navy and spent 2 years in the South Pacific. Erma went to live with her sister in Detroit, where in March of 1945, she enlisted in the US Army as a nurse. She was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to active duty at Fort Benning, Ga. Her first patients were Japanese Prisoners of War, known as Bushido, who were wounded too badly to kill themselves rather than be captured.

When the war was over, Ralph came home and he and Erma were reunited. They moved to Hughson, California, and had two sons.

Erma worked as a nurse at Memorial Hospital in Ceres (Memorial South) and became nursing supervisor there. Erma decided a career change was in order, so she enrolled in college at Stanislaus State College, then meeting at the County Fairgrounds in Turlock. She graduated with a degree in English and went on to get her Teaching and Counseling Credentials.

During the last years of her working life, Erma was an English teacher and Counselor at Escalon High School. She retired in the 70's to help Ralph tend their walnut orchard north of Turlock. She enjoyed reading, gardening, family and watching her 49er's play football. Erma was also a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, and took us to many games at Candlestick Park.

Erma is survived by her two sons: David Headrick (Loretta) of Merced and Gordon Headrick (Lorraine) of Modesto. She is also survived by 1 grandson, Joshua Headrick of Modesto, and 3 grand-daughters: Lora Burnett (Greg) of Murphy, Tx.; Rebecca Headrick (Tim) of Chicago, Il.; and Abby Peretz (Matt) of St.Louis, Mo. Other survivors include 2 great-grandsons, Joe and John Burnett and two great-granddaughters, Molly and Charlotte Peretz, as well as several nieces, nephews and many extended family members.

The family wishes to thank her caregivers: Loree Newland, DeAna Armendarez, Alyssa Fuentez, Jasmine Mangal and Tom Wendt. Their presence and care for our mother allowed her to stay in her home until her death, which was her wish. Active until the end, Mom hung her laundry on the clothesline weekly until August 2012.

Erma was a member of the Modesto First Baptist Church (now called CrossPoint Church). Visitation will be on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 from 4-8pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012 at 1:30pm, both services at Lakewood Funeral Home in Hughson, CA.