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Joseph Wesley Hedges
03/19/1925 — 01/10/2007
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Wenatchee, Washington
Joseph Wesley Hedges
Joe Hedges was born March 19, 1925, in Wenatchee, Washington to Wes and Mildred Tuttle Hedges. Wes Hedges was a fruit and dairy farmer of modest proportions. Mildred was initially the principal and a teacher at Malaga School about 5 miles south of Wenatchee.
Joe and his younger sister, Kay, were raised on the farm on a slope above the Columbia River. Life included lots of hard work. At age 15, during the summer, Joe worked 12 hour days 6 days a week on a combine. A 1940 newspaper article quotes Joe as saying, Its the best job Ive ever had.
At Wenatchee High, he played football and baseball among other things and graduated in 1943. Like a large number of other young men, he wanted to become a pilot. He was not destined to fly but was accepted into the V-12 program, and he started at Willamette College in the fall of 1943.
After taking an aptitude test, Joe received orders stating that he would be majoring in Mechanical Engineering and attending the University of Minnesota. He claimed he cried when he saw his class schedule; he had never heard of any of the subjects before.
In June 1946, Joe was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy and awarded a B. S. with honors in Mechanical Engineering. Joe played football for the Golden Gophers as a reserve single wing quarterback.
After graduation Joe was offered a full tuition scholarship then about $100.00 a term at the College of Puget Sound. He took every Geology class and was awarded an M. S. in geology: the only masters in geology ever awarded at Puget Sound. On the football team, Joe was now a T-formation quarterback and scored the winning touchdown against Willamette, a team the loggers had not beaten in 20 years. Always a hustler who tried his hardest, Joe received the football teams Most Inspirational Player award.
But by far the best thing that ever happened to Joe at Puget Sound, actually in his entire life, was meeting Virginia Ginger Gundstrom. They married in 1949 and were together for 58 wonderful years.
In 1950, Joe accepted a position as an engineer with General Electric, and Joe and Ginger moved to the Tri-Cities. At that time they vowed to stay only one year. In 1951, they moved to their current house in Richland. Joe worked in several senior engineering and managerial capacities retiring from WPPSS in 1987.
Joe and Ginger had three boys, Bill, Tom and Pete, who graduated from Richland High School in 1968, 1969 and 1971 respectively.
Joe leaves an amazing athletic/outdoors legacy. He and his Dad hiked into 7000 high lakes to fly fish for trout. He began skiing on what resembled 2 X 8s at Mt. Rainier when it had lifts. He continued until he had both knees replaced. He climbed Mt. Adams 12,276 at the age of 57. He ran a marathon 26.2 miles at 56. He played fast pitch softball. He had 2 holes-in-one in golf. He officiated high school and college football and basketball for 27 years. He coached baseball starting with Densow Drugs in 1959 in the Columbia Little League and ending with the Richland Merchants semi-pro team twenty plus years later. He was still throwing batting practice when he was in his 50s.
He is survived by his loving wife Ginger; his sons Bill, his wife Deborah, Tom, his wife Anne Marie, and Pete and his wife, Jane. His sister Kay and 6 grandchildren also survive.
He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, friend and coach, and an all around great guy. He will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at Einans Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 17, 2007. A reception will follow at the Hedges Family Estate Winery on Sunset Road.
Memorial contributions may be made in Joe's name to Parkinson's research through American Parkinson's Disease, 60 Bay Street Ste. 401, Staten Island, NY 10301.
Joe and his parents used to visit my parents. Our modest home was so small on the ranch, they would sit on the fenders and running boards of the cars and visit.
Please accept my deepest sympathy over the loss of Joe. I apologize for missing the service and memorial but work and the nasty weather didnt permit. My thoughts were with you however.
Joe-Joe meant a lot to me and all of us who knew him and got to play ball for him. His energy and concern for us was apparent. I had a blast playing baseball for him. He made it fun while still being competitive. He was a good man.
I have looked through plenty of anatomy books and Ive yet to find my dobber. But Joe-Joe referred to it a lot. He wouldnt let me get my dobber down when things were going badly. Dont let your dobber down was the advice from the third base coaching box after looking foolish on a three and two curveball or kicking a ground ball. It is actually times like this that his words were intended for. Pick up your spirits and keep trying. We would do well to heed his advice and try to keep our dobbers up and celebrate his wonderful life and the positive influence he had on all of us.
Those memories of Joe-Joe will always be with me.
Take care and God Bless.
Joe and his parents used to visit my parents. Our modest home was so small on the ranch, they would sit on the fenders and running boards of the cars and visit.
Please accept my deepest sympathy over the loss of Joe. I apologize for missing the service and memorial but work and the nasty weather didnt permit. My thoughts were with you however.
Joe-Joe meant a lot to me and all of us who knew him and got to play ball for him. His energy and concern for us was apparent. I had a blast playing baseball for him. He made it fun while still being competitive. He was a good man.
I have looked through plenty of anatomy books and Ive yet to find my dobber. But Joe-Joe referred to it a lot. He wouldnt let me get my dobber down when things were going badly. Dont let your dobber down was the advice from the third base coaching box after looking foolish on a three and two curveball or kicking a ground ball. It is actually times like this that his words were intended for. Pick up your spirits and keep trying. We would do well to heed his advice and try to keep our dobbers up and celebrate his wonderful life and the positive influence he had on all of us.
Those memories of Joe-Joe will always be with me.
Take care and God Bless.
I knew Joe from our employment at WPPSS. Joe was a very honest and forthright individual. If you had an idea and wanted accolades, kudos, platitudes, and sweet smoke regarding your brilliance, he wasnt the fellow with whom you should consult. Joe would give an honest assessment. Not brutal honesty
he could be avuncular and gentle in his reply, but it would be honest, and always helpful.
Joe was very self-effacing. Boastfulness was antithetical to his persona. Despite his many accomplishments, he never mentioned them, albeit he was quick to point out the accomplishments of others. He was a sweet man, generous, a giving person, always anxious to help.
Often Joe could solve a problem with a clever, simple approach. I coveted his ability to be innovative and yet remain simple in problem solving. Because his solutions would be simple and well devised, they always worked! I often wished I could, and would have with alacrity, traded my erudite intellect for his clever, fertile mind.
He often referred to himself as an Old Gummer, frequently in third person, sprinkled with humor, and this was very charming, very endearing. Joe loved the central Cascades, the Enchantments, Dragon Tail and Prussic Peaks. We chatted about skiing and climbing with some frequency, and he would mention that the industry would never build cants large enough for his bowed legs. He mentioned a planned family trip to Chamonix. I said that from the summit lift on the Aguille du Midi to the base was roughly 6000 feet vertical, none of it groomed, and all steep. Challenging skiing even for a young man. He said, Well, I guess its best to do it now when I still have some spring in this young body, before I REALLY become an old gummer. At the time, Joe was around 60. An old gummer already, but obviously a tough old gummer.
Joe and I were never fast friends, rather friendly colleagues with respect for each other both professionally and personally. That we never became close friends is my loss, and I lament that fact. Coulda, shoulda, woulda! An opportunity in my life, lost.
The last time I saw Joe was at the Winery during fall crush. He and his wife were at the auxiliary building, greeting guests. I said, Hey, Joe Hedges. How are you, Old gummer? Joe responded, I apologize, I dont recognize you. Please dont be offended. I dont recognize members of my own family sometimes anymore. Ginger explained things to me. Despite this, we had a very pleasant chat. A really nice exchange. As I walked to the main building with my wife, tears were in my eyes and I was having trouble speaking. I said, Im so damned mad right now. Hes a fine, honest man. A good man. A family man. He was once an excellent athlete. He deserved to go quickly, in good health, as Wolkenhauer is fond of saying, In full stride and the end of a right fine day. He doesnt deserve this. Its not right. Its not fair! I was furious with the world and the tawdry way it treated those who lived fine and upstanding lives.
My favorite anecdote regarding Joe cannot be fully described, for obvious reasons. However, it best explains the fabric of Joes persona. My daughter was in the process of selecting a college. Joe mentioned that he unceremoniously yanked a son from a major college and transferred him to his old Alma Mater, University of Puget Sound. Joe didnt like something that was going on at the big school, and he took immediate corrective action. He wasnt a man to abrogate his responsibility as parent, even to a 20 year old. My sons will grow to be honest, hard working, forthright, trustworthy, and loving, he said to me. They will be men of fine character. I remember that exchange well, verbatim, in fact. Good objectives, that which a parent should strive to achieve. Well, from what I can tell, Joe, you have succeeded most admirably at this particular pursuit.
And, what is more, you have been a resounding success in life, Joe. Take a bow, Old Gummer. Take a bow!
My uncle Joe was one of the few truly good people I’ve ever known. He helped our family in some difficult times. I will miss him very much, and his corny jokes.
I grew up in the same neighborhood as the Hedges family, and I was encouraged by Joe to participate in and enjoy sports of all kinds as a young boy. Thank you Joe! My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this most difficult time.
Uncle Joe always had a corny joke to tell, but he always made me laugh. He was a great guy and I’ll miss him.
I have fond remembrances and respect for Joe and his wisdom from the Richland Merchents 1974-78 and my brief encounters with him at WPPSS and in town. He was a good and decent guy that I was glad to have known. We need more people like Joe Hedges. He will will be missed alot.
Sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. We go back many years…clear into the 60’s. I coached Richland Bell Furniture when he had Densow Drug in Little League.
I’ve played against him in fast-pitched softball and golf.
He was good in every sports activity, including his work as a referee.
He left a great legacy.
Ron
I’m Maxine Wegner’s daughter. I am really sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I know Joe was a wonderful husband and father and the memories you have will help comfort through this time of grief.
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Joseph Wesley Hedges