Kermit P. Hedrick

Kermit Paul Hedrick, 76, passed away Friday, October 19, 2018 at Stormont-Vail in Topeka. He was born August 16, 1942 in Ellsworth, Kansas the son of Paul V. and Mildred I. Schultz Hedrick.Kermit attended Bushton High School and graduated with the Class of 1960. On August 15th of that same year he enlisted in the United States Navy. He would proudly serve as one of the first crew of the USS Enterprise. Kermit was awarded an honorable discharge on July 30, 1963. He was joined in marriage to Vickie Brooks on April 21, 1961 in Ellsworth, Kansas. Following his military service he was employed for two years at Ed Rogers Oil Service. Kermit and Vickie then moved to Ellinwood  and he began working at Hunts Pipe Coating. In 1968 they moved to Emporia briefly before building the family home in Hartford.  Kermit was employed as a machinist at Didde Manufacturing for over twenty years. Following his retirement in 1989 Kermit began working for U.S.D. #252 as the district maintenance supervisor. He officially retired in 2002. Kermit was a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post #1980 in Emporia. He will live on in the hearts of his wife, Vickie Hedrick of their home in Hartford; a daughter, Shelly Suggs and husband Bill of Roach, Missouri; a son, Steven Hedrick and wife Brenda of Newton, Kansas; sisters, Delores McElroy of Queen City, Missouri, Nancy Koch of Kechi; Jennette Donley of Lincoln; brother Emmit Hedrick of Haysville; grandchildren, Heather Zeller and husband David, Jason Dixon and wife Carolina, Victoria McBride and husband Darren, Zackary Suggs and Zander Suggs; great-grandchildren, Conner and Kolby Zeller, Jack and Kaylee Dixon and Breanna McBride. Memorial contributions may be made to V.F.W. Post #1980 and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home in Lebo. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.