Dr. Lowell Eugene Hedges went home peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 3, 2011 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
The ninth of ten children, Lowell was born on June 28, 1928 to William “Ray” and Blanche (Sifritt) Hedges.
He was a member of the class of 1946 at Pleasant High School where he met his “brown-haired, brown eyed” sweetheart; Donna May Millisor who he married on June 26, 1949.
Lowell earned his Bachelor’s Degree at OSU and then enlisted in the Navy. He taught vocational agriculture at both Green Camp and Elgin High School for the next 10 years.
From 1966-1968 Lowell and his family lived in India where he was an agricultural consultant for the Agency of International Development. He helped to establish a secondary program for vocational agriculture and started a Future Farmers of India group similar to FFA in the United States.
After returning to the United States, Lowell served as the curriculum coordinator for Elgin Schools while attending OSU to earn his PhD in education. After receiving his Doctorate degree he became the Superintendent of Elgin Schools and later returned to the classroom as an agricultural teacher.
In 1979 he joined the Department of Agricultural Education at OSU where he was an assistant and then an associate professor for the next 12 years. Although he officially retired from OSU in 1991, he continued to travel throughout the state assisting first year agricultural teachers. In addition, he also spent time in Uganda, Turkey and China as a consultant for OSU to assist those countries develop and improve their teaching curriculums.
His philosophy was that the student was the center of teaching – not the subject. “To teach is to touch the heart”. His love of teaching and his love for his students was recognized over the years when he received the following awards: Rodney F. Plimpton Outstanding Teacher Award, the Diamond Anniversary Faculty Award, the Citation for Outstanding Service as a Teacher of Vocational Agriculture in Ohio, Outstanding Teacher of the Year and Vocational Teacher of the Year in 1977.
In 1994 Lowell received national recognition when he earned the American Vocational Association’s Educator of the Year award. He also authored seven books for teachers to assist them in teaching critical thinking and problem solving in their classrooms.
Active in many local and professional organizations during his lifetime, he was a member of the Green Camp United Methodist Church his entire life. He loved his church and on any given Sunday may have been heard singing, teaching or preaching. In addition to his ministry at his local church, he was extensively involved with Gideon’s International and local prison ministries helping to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the United States and the world. He was also active in the Green Camp and Pleasant Senior Citizen’s Clubs and the OSU Alumni Association. He was a talented artist, craftsman, poet and writer and had many editorials published in the Marion Star throughout the years.
Lowell was preceded in death by 4 brothers; Harold, Warren, Dwight and Kenneth and 4 sisters; Helen Davis, Vena Schertzer, Mildred Burley and Marilyn Rasey. Lowell is survived by his loving wife of 62 years; Donna, his daughters; Laurie (Stan) Carlyle and Sheryl Hedges, his son; L. Mark (Grace) Hedges. his sister; Dorothy Eberts, his grandchildren; Adam (Becky) Carlyle, Leah Carlyle, Nathan (Jennifer) Carlyle, Matthew (Amanda) Carlyle, Sarah (Jason) Horan, Emily (Joshua) Workman, Rachel Hedges and Anna Hedges and his great-grandchildren; Caedmon Carlyle, Liam Carlyle, Emerson Carlyle and Eleanor Horan.
A celebration of Lowell’s life will be held Saturday, July 9 at 10:30 AM at the Green Camp United Methodist Church with Rev. Mandy Rice officiating. Burial will follow in the Green Camp Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Hughes-Allen Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations may be made to Gideon’s International and expressions of sympathy may be sent directly to his family by logging onto www.hughesallen.com and opening his obituary.
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