Daniel Edward (Ed) Hudgins, Jr., passed away Dec. 16, 2014, in Tryon, N.C. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; daughters, Mary Carter Smith and Polly Sare (Terry); son, D. Edward, III; step-son Rex Hunter; sisters, Anne Sullivan (John Barry) and Elizabeth Spinner; special sister-in-law Wanda Presnell; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He also left behind his precious pooch, Tippy. He was predeceased by wife, Martha Curtis; daughter, Sally McKoin (Tommy); mother, Margaret “Polly” Fulford; father, D. Edward Hudgins, Sr. and stepmother, Elizabeth Banner.

 

Ed was born January 26, 1936, in Greensboro, N.C. He graduated Phillips Exeter Academy and UNC Chapel Hill (Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Order of Gimghoul). He played basketball and tennis at Exeter, and played competitive tennis at UNC. He also enjoyed golf, college football and basketball, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of all sports.

 

After freezing for four years at Exeter, he came back to his beloved South, living in Greensboro, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and finally in Tryon. He worked in textile marketing at Burlington Industries, Universal Textured Yarns, with the bulk of his career as director of marketing with Glen Raven Mills, where he commuted weekly to New York City for many years.

 

After retiring from Glen Raven, he worked with his wife Martha in their knitting and needlepoint shop, “Stitches.” He volunteered with several local groups, including being a Big Brother, mentoring boys who needed a male role model.

 

Ed loved life and those of us in it. He was spirited, fun, kind, generous and always true to his word. He was epitome of a “southern gentleman.”

 

A graveside service will be held Oct. 3, 2015, at 3 p.m., Forest Lawn Cemetery, Greensboro, N.C. In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to THRIVE, thrive4health.org, Hendersonville, NC; Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, NC, 28722; Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, 134 White Drive, Columbus, NC, 28722; or any charity of your choice.

 

Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneralhome.com and Melinda Hudgins may be reached at ed.melinda.hudgins@gmail.com.

 

Petty Funeral Home & Crematory

Landrum, S.C.