W4LMH - April 15, 2011
Louis M. Hudgins Jr
Kill Devil Hills, NC

QCWA # 22385
Chapter 119

Lewis Mitchell Hudgins Jr., 80, passed away April 15, 2011, surrounded by family and friends. Born March 8, 1931 in Newport News, Va., Lewis attended Newport News High School was Vice President of Centralite Supply, co-owner of Saluda General Store and JoChris Designs. He was a lifelong ham radio operator and proudly served in the Civil Air Patrol. He spent his final years enjoying life on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 56 years, JoAnn Christie Hudgins (MeeMaw); parents, Lucille and Charles R. Downey; mother and father-in-law, Evelyn and Fred Christie; brother-in-law, Fred Christie Jr.

Lewis (Pop Pop) leaves behind one son, Gary M. Hudgins of Kill Devil Hills, NC; one daughter, Christie Matthews and husband, Carlton of Gloucester, VA; brother, Charles R. Downey Jr. (Butch) and wife, Libby; grandchildren, April Rhodes and husband, Marty, Megan Farinholt, Chip and Lindsay Matthews; great-grandchildren, Tyler Brandt, Nicolas and Noah Rhodes; sister-in-law, Sharon Splinter; devoted niece, Connie Collins; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, great friends, neighbors and Abby, his best friend and loving Pekingese.

The family extends an invitation to all who knew and loved him to a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at 1107 Cardinal St., Kill Devil Hills, NC.

April 19, 2011
Oh how well I remember Lewis. He was a great little fellow that I knew back in the 40's. I tried to contact Lewis a few years ago but I never got a response. I am sorry, as I would have loved to talk with him about the old times. I was working at Roanoke Avenue Market (27th and Roanoke Ave.) and I was washing the windows on the outside of the store. It was April 1945 that Lewis came running up to where I was working to tell me that President Roosevelt had died. He had heard it on the radio and communications then is not what it is now.

He was also upset as his class was the first to have the 8th grade added to the school year.

My most sincere sympathy goes out to the family for their loss. Bless you all.

William Gross, Newport News, Virginia