Oliver Perry Hedgepeth

He was born in Rocky Mount, NC on January 16, 1926 to Benjamin F. and Willie Mae Hedgepeth. He graduated from Rocky Mount High School, class of 1944, and then joined the US Navy, serving two years. He entered East Carolina University in 1946 where he met his future wife Elizabeth Anne (“Betsy”) Flye of Greenville, North Carolina. He was a charter member of the University Air Force ROTC and graduated in 1950 when he was called to active duty with the US Air Force, serving until his retirement in 1978. His overseas tours included Germany, England, and Turkey, serving primarily with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He served during World War II, the Korean conflict, and in Da Nang, Vietnam for which he was awarded the Bronze Star. He also enjoyed two tours as an Associate Professor of Air Science at North Carolina State University and University of Louisville. He was a longtime member of Chapel #1 at Randolph Air Force Base.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betsy, to whom he was married for 65 years. He is survived by his sons Timothy P. Hedgepeth and his husband Rene’ Paul Barilleaux, James Todd Hedgepeth and his wife Margaret (“Peggy”) Rayfield, his daughter Bettina Ruth Hedgepeth Howard, grandchildren Emily, Jack, and Matthew Howard, and siblings Peggy Anderson, William Hedgepeth and his wife Lottie, and sister-in-law Marie Hedgepeth, all from North Carolina.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, and brother. He loved his Spurs, Frank Sinatra and the joy brought to him by his loving grandchildren, with whom he lived during his final years. The family will receive friends at a visitation beginning at 11:00 am and a memorial service at 12:00 pm Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Road in Universal City on Tuesday, July 12, followed by a graveside service with military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans, www.ihelpveterans.org.