HEDGES, Walter Paul

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/09/2015 Walter Paul Hedges went home to God Oct. 4, 2015. He was born Nov. 12, 1938, to Paul Austin Hedges and Dorothea Elizabeth Hedges in Akron, Ohio. From 1943 Walter spent his childhood in Phoenix, graduated from West High School in 1956 and served in the Arizona Air Guard, spending nine months in Germany. He was passionate about flying and for years held his private pilot’s license. He worked at Motorola for over a decade and in 1975 left to form his own company and to continue his father’s business, Electroneering Company, in the Laveen area. During these early years of emerging technology and the computer science field, Walt distinguished himself as a natural-born engineer, designer, inventor and computer-savvy creative thinker. To the end of his life he was widely recognized as being able to fix, build or engineer just about anything, and his gifts and talents were given to help anyone, friend or stranger. With his family he moved to Pinedale in October 1983 and began the most varied and productive years of his life. Here he created his own burglar/fire alarm installation and service company to serve the White Mountain area. A brief list of his endeavors cannot tell the story of his impact on the community he loved. He led and contributed to the Pinedale Water Improvement District; Pinedale Christmas Bridge Lighting; Pinedale Run to the Bridge; three decades of Lion’s Club service and leadership, including Camp Tatiyee, the holiday food basket and newspaper collection projects and Flags for First Graders program. He built Lion’s Club, Garden Club and White Mountain Conservatives Fourth of July parade floats; raised the flag at every Show Low High School home game for two decades; sang, danced, acted and built sets for Show Low High drama productions; and lovingly stood as a Salvation Army Christmas bell ringer for many years. He fought fires as a Pinedale volunteer. A memory dear to him was his service in support of those who fought the colossal 2001 Rodeo Chediski wildfire. Walt worked tirelessly in Pinedale keeping the water flowing for many fire engines. Proudly recognized for his distinctive physical characteristics, including a white T-shirt, Levi’s and bushy eyebrows, he loved the history of the American West and the Second World War, electronic and computer engineering, Mexican food, chocolate chip cookies, coffee, ice cream and Ford automobiles, owning several throughout his life. Walter Hedges was a true American patriot, citizen and community leader, standing shoulder to shoulder with anyone interested in encouraging the American dream in its best sense. A strong Christian, he loved his Bible study groups and exploring Biblical history. Walt is survived by his wife of 15 years, Celia Hedges; daughter and son-in-law, Dixie and Chris Lloyd; daughter Holly Poteet; daughter and son-in-law Kelly and Dan Dietz; Celia’s daughter, Robyn Baca; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ed Hedges, son Paul Edward Hedges and his lifelong friend, Robert “Buck” Orrahood. A memorial service and reception will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the White Mountain Bible Church, 3171 Show Low Lake Road, in Show Low. An account has been set up in his name to help Celia during this time of transition at PayPal account wphedges@cox.net. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low handled arrangements. For those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book, visit www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com.