Haywood Kenneth Hudgens

Haywood Kenneth “Woody” Hudgens, age 92, of Springfield, passed away February 10, 2016. Funeral services will be conducted at 2pm on Saturday, February 13th in the chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield with Dr. Fred Hembree and Brother Kenneth Wayne Head officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery with Garrett Abbott, Rex Cummings, Barry Rosson, Jim Shamwell, Greg York, Jason York and Todd York serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Monty Allsbrook, Delmas Brake, Scott Cavender, Larry Eden, Bob Ary, Carney Elliott, Billy Hogan, Stewart Johnson, Larry Lee, Jimmy Orand, Joe Stravers, Jack Vannatta and Gilford Walker. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 4-8pm and again on Saturday from 1pm until the hour of service. Mr. Hudgens graduated from Coopertown High School and was inducted into the U.S. Navy in August 1943 serving most of his Navy tenure in the South Pacific Theater on the aircraft carrier USS Hoggatt Bay during World War II. He looked forward to and attended the Hoggatt Bay reunion each year as long as his health permitted. After service he became involved in farming and continued part time until September 2000. He was also a loyal employee of Spin-A-Pin Lanes bowling alley as manager and mechanic, retiring in 1994 with 34 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. Mr. Hudgens was a member of the Springfield United Methodist Church having served on several committees, church council and Sunday School class president. He was a dedicated participant of Camp Bluebird, a camp for cancer survivors. Mr. Hudgens was the second of eleven children of Jasper and Ruby Wilson Hudgens who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death are his wife, Julia York Hudgens, three brothers, Billy Hudgens, Ray Hudgens and Jesse Hudgens and two sisters, Nelda Rosson and Becky Arnce. He is survived by his son, Kenneth (Mary Tom) Hudgens; daughter, Cheryl (Melvin) O’Neal; grandson, Ryan O’Neal; step-granddaughters, Kristen (Chris) Ayer and Lindsey Plummer; four sisters, Melba Cummings, Sara Carter, Nancy (James) Shamwell and Faye York; and brother, Jimmy Hudgens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Springfield Gideons or to Alive Hospice. All donations may be sent in c/o Austin & Bell. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000