MENTONE – Joe R. Hedington, 76, of 3120 S. Ind. 25, Warsaw, died unexpectedly at 11:21 a.m. Jan 16, 2012, in the emergency room at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.
He was born Jan. 10, 1936, in Pierceton, to Sylvester and Floe E. Shoemaker Hedington. On July 21, 1958, in Columbia City, he married Linda Bishop, who survives.
He was a lifelong farmer and formerly worked at the Red Comet Station, Warsaw, and Utter’s Service Station, Mentone. He also worked at Manwaring Farms and retired from Midwest Poultry. He was a 1955 graduate of Mentone High School. He was a member of and raced ponies for many years at Nappanee Trotting Breed Racing. He is a licensed groom through the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. He enjoyed watching and participating in horse-pulling contests. He also worked on mowers and small engines of all kinds. Since retirement he had participated in Standard Bred Racing at Pari-Mutuel and County Fair Tracks.
Also surviving are two sons, Gary (and spouse Joyce) Hedington and Sam (and spouse Melody) Hedington, all of Claypool; three grandchildren, Cody, Cassi and Jason; a great-grandson, David Michael; and a sister, Nancy (and spouse Larry) Mellott, Etna Green. He was preceded in death by a grandson, David Joseph; a sister, Martha Yates; and his parents.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone, with Pastor Terry Bradford officiating. Burial will be in Palestine Cemetery.
Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
***** Memorials may be made to Kosciusko County Home Care and Hospice.
Condolences may be sent via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
