Theodore Eugene Hendricks

Theodore Eugene Hendricks, age 77, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, November 26, 2009 at his home.

A celebration of life will be at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors. Private inurnment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Remembrances may be made to Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South 17th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

Ted was born June 6, 1932 in Los Angeles to his parents, Edward Francis & Dorothy Loomis Hendricks. Due to the early death of his mother when he was three years old, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, Eugene & Ada Loomis. After graduating from Fairfax High School, he attended L.A. Trade Technical Junior College where he obtained his FAA Aircraft and Powerplant License. In 1951 he earned his private pilot license prior to joining the United States Air Force. He spent 3 years as a flight engineer on cargo aircraft flying a total of over 2000 hours between Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland on resupply missions.

Ted met his first wife, Elsie Gosse in Newfoundland, and they were married in 1951. They had two sons, Duane and Donald. Together they spent many of their family years in Pismo Beach and Sunnyvale, California where Ted and his boys enjoyed fishing and motorcycling in the Sierra Mountains.

Following his discharge from the Air Force, Ted and his family returned to California. He began his 34-year career with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in a four-year Aircraft Flight and Development Apprenticeship program, working his way up to Senior Staff Engineer. In 1989 he retired and relocated to Minden, Nevada. The following 12 years he worked part-time as a Climatological Technician for the Office of the Nevada State Climatologist installing and maintaining weather stations throughout Nevada. In 2001 after his wife, Elsie passed away, he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon to be closer to his children and their families. In 2003 he met his future wife, Mary Louise Doran, and they were married in 2004. They enjoyed their new life and retirement years together traveling often in the RV as well as several overseas vacations.

In his younger years, Ted loved flying small aircraft. Flying continued to be his passion throughout his life. He also loved researching on the computer, traveling, fishing, weather watching, and car racing.

In addition to his wife, Mary Louise Hendricks; he is survived by a son, Don and his wife Julie; and a daughter-in-law, Sandy Hendricks all of Grants Pass; five grandchildren; three stepchildren, Monte Doran and wife Michelle, Carolee Dewars and husband Todd, and Kristin Koch and husband Brian; and six step-grandchildren.

Ted was preceded in death by his first wife, Elsie in 2001 and his son, Duane Hendricks in 2008.