Woodward County Obituary
Elmwood Cemetery

© Billings Funeral Home
WOODWARD, WOODWARD CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

CARMEN HEDGES

8 Dec 1922 - 4 Jul 2014

Funeral: 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 - Billings Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 - Elmwood Cemetery

Carmen Hedges, 91 year old resident of Woodward, died July 4, 2014 in Woodward. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel in Woodward with Ray Don Jackson officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and also the morning of the service. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery with the United States Navy conducting military graveside rites.

Carmen Quinlan Hedges was born on December 8, 1922 at the family homestead farm near Gate, Oklahoma. He attended Rosston High School, where he met the love of his life Del Cummins. They graduated May of 1942, and were married September 26, 1942 at the Methodist parsonage in Buffalo, Oklahoma. Carmen was a devoted Christian and his favorite verse was John 3:16. He was raised in the Methodist Churches of Gate and Rosston. After moving to Woodward, they were active members of Baptist Churches until declining health prohibited attendance.

Spring of 1945, following his tour of duty with the US Navy, they made their home in Woodward. He was a graduate of NYA Aircraft and Mechanics School, Enid, Oklahoma and was a Chrysler Corporation Master Tech Service Conference Leader in Detroit, Michigan. He was employed by car dealers in Woodward before purchasing the Phillips 66 Service Station at 1102 Main in 1955. He owned and operated this business until retirement in January of 1989, when the station closed. This earned him the distinction of the only Woodward service station operated by the same person, in the same location, for over 34 years. During that time, he received numerous Phillips 66 awards.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, collecting and repairing old radios, watches and clocks and tinkering with anything mechanical was a lifelong pleasure. If he couldn’t find the part he needed...he would make one! Del helped Carmen raise, dress and sell quail and pheasant. They liked camping, bird watching and traveling.

They both were members of the Order of Eastern Star. Carmen was a Woodward Masonic Lodge member for over 50 years. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of York Rite and a devoted Shriner. Being patrol leader and driving the “little red fire truck” at parades all over the state was a “really good time”. These activities became limited as Del’s health declined and Carmen became her faithful caregiver.

Carmen never met a stranger, he made friends easily and was always ready to lend a hand. His family gave him the most enjoyment in life. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by two daughters, Mona and John Windolph of Norman; Carol and Henry Vloedman of Ft. Supply; a son Robert Carl “RC” and Connie Hedges of Mooreland; four grandchildren, Yvette and Burton Cleveland of Austin, Texas; Tommy and wife Amy Windolph of Pauls Valley; Robby Hedges of Woodward; Ryan Hedges of Mooreland; three great grandchildren, Brittany Williams and Ryan Hughes of Houston, Texas; Tyler Davis of Dallas, Texas; Riley Hedges of Woodward and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roy and Ada; Del, his beloved wife of almost 65 years; his brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Gloria; and an infant grandson, Derk Tyler Vloedman.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital of Shreveport, Louisiana with the funeral home accepting the memorials.