Harry D. Hedgepath

COLUMBIA – Harry D. Hedgepath, 92, went home to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father on Friday, September 27, 2013. Harry was born on August 31, 1921 and was the fourth child of the late Earl and Irma Hedgepath. Harry was predeceased by a brother, Earl Hedgepath and two sisters, Booth Margolius and Violet Amick.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2013 at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Old Bush River Road in Columbia, SC. Visitation will be at the church prior to the service from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Burial services will be held at Bush River Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

Harry is survived by his wife, Mildred; three sons, Jim (Stephanie), Mark (Janice) and Greg (Annette); five grandchildren, Patrick Hedgepath, Leah Walters, Garon Hedgepath, Lee Quattlebaum and Eric Sanders and seven great-grandchildren.

Harry graduated from Columbia High School and began his career as a draftsman at the Schoolhouse Planning Division of the State Department of Education. With the impact of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the U. S. Marine Air Corp in early January of 1942 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. On November 20, 1943, he was married to the former Mildred Hinnant and shortly afterwards, was shipped out to the South Pacific where he spent eighteen months serving as cartographer, gunner and also pilot in emergency situations over enemy territory. He returned home the day after VJ day. After separation from the Marine Corp in November, 1945, he was asked by Dr. James H. Hope, State Superintendent of Education to return to the Department as Acting Department Head. After two years, he felt he needed to continue his education and enrolled in the School of Architecture at Clemson College. Upon graduation in June, 1950, he worked with the Architectural firm of LBC&W for 25 years. During those years, Harry attended Main Street Methodist Church, was a member of the church board and a Lay Speaker for the Columbia area. Upon leaving LBC&W, he spent the next 10 years with two local firms, one being Ralph Walden and Associates, where he was instrumental in designing the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church’s new building, which brought great satisfaction and joy to Harry. Later, he became a charter member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and served as an elder and later was named Elder Emeritus. For many years, Harry was a very active member of the Gideons International, Irmo Camp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International, Irmo Camp.