Donald Louis Hedden

Donald Louis Hedden, age 92, of Batesville passed away June 20, 2018. He was born in Penrose, Arkansas on August 31, 1925, the son of Ralph and Fain Mobley Hedden. Donald was a 1943 graduate of Batesville High School and a 1950 graduate of Arkansas College where he played football. He married his high school sweetheart, Emma Lou Jones, in 1949 and they would soon have celebrated 69 wonderful years together. He was proud of their three sons, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. In December 1943, Donald was inducted into the US Army. After training in California and North Carolina, he shipped overseas to England, entering combat in France in October 1944. He received battle stars for the Battle of Colmar Pocket and the Battle of Central Europe and was discharged from the Army in May 1946. Donald joined the Arkansas National Guard in July of 1949 where he served as platoon sergeant, platoon leader, and company commander of Company ‘L' in Batesville. He was mobilized from September through November 1957 for the Little Rock Central High School integration mission. After serving in several staff positions in the National Guard and Reserves, Donald retired as a Colonel in 1985. Early in his career, Donald was an educator, principal, and coach in Batesville schools. Later he was the manager at Jones Building Supply and Jones Construction where he had a hand in building many homes and businesses in the Batesville area. Donald retired in 1989. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an avid golfer into his 90's. He loved to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks and Batesville Pioneers. Donald was a faithful member of Central Avenue United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. He also served on the WRMC Building Committee, was a board member at Woodlawn Nursing Home, and assisted at the Old Independence County Museum. He did a stint on the Batesville City Council and was instrumental in developing plans for the Batesville Municipal Golf Course. He was a member of the Lyon College and Batesville Area Athletic Hall of Fames. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, R.F. Hedden; and his nephew, Gene Hedden. Survivors include his wife, Emma Lou; sons, Sparky (Cindy) of Sheridan, Benny (Jean) of O'Fallon, Missouri, and Terry (Vicki) of Fayetteville; grandchildren, Mandy Hedden Deckard (Justin) of Little Rock, Nathan Hedden (Auburn) of Yokota AFB, Japan, Casey Hedden (Kathryn) of Sheridan, and Kayla Hedden Wagner (Chris) of St. Peters, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Levi Hedden, Makia Hedden, Emily Hedden, Henry Hedden, Emma Wagner, and Clara Wagner; brother, Robert Hedden (Ruth) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; sister-in-law, Claudia Hedden of Batesville; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at Central Avenue United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 23 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home on Friday, June 22 from 5-7 p.m. Pallbearers will be Arch Jones, Michael Jones, Reid Altom, Scott Hedden, Coleman Hedden, John Hedden, Nathan Hedden, Casey Hedden, Justin Deckard, and Chris Wagner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Central Avenue United Methodist Church, 1205 N Central Ave, Batesville, Ark. 72501. www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/batesville.