Raymond L. “Ray” Hedrick, 82, Parsons, died Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at Labette Health.

He was born Sept. 2, 1926, near Altamont, to Henry C. and Cora M. Fry Hedrick. He grew up in that area and graduated from Labette County High School in 1944. From 1944 to 1946 he served in World War II in the United States Navy and was stationed on the USS Cassin Young destroyer in the Pacific.

On Sept. 4, 1948 he and Mary E. Montgomery were married at the former Washington Avenue Methodist Church in Parsons. They lived four years in Chanute.

Ray was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for more than 38 years and retired in 1986 as Wire Chief.

He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son, Michael R. Hedrick Shell Knob, Mo.; a daughter, Darla D. Hedrick, San Antonio, Texas; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren .

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at Altamont with military honors given by the Parsons V.F.W. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. this evening

Memorials are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church, the Labette Health Foundation, Operation Bright Touch or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. They may be left at or mailed to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.