Jackie Lee Hedrick

Jack Hedrick was born in Visalia on July 20th, 1946, the one and only child of Leon and Wanda Hedrick. He was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior on March 5th, 2025. As a young boy, Jack attended Houston Ave school and Green Acres middle school before his parents moved into the Mt Whitney district his freshman year. The move was hard on him at first - but by his junior year he found that he knew just about every 13 to 18 year old kid in town. He proudly helped lead the 1963 Mt. Whitney Pioneers to their first ever Championship football season and was named their "Offensive Player of the Year" during both his Junior and Senior years. Jack was no doubt a talented football player, but his favorite sport was baseball. One week after graduating from Mt. Whitney High School in 1964, Jack signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles as a pitcher and was off to West Virginia. During his second season with the Orioles, however, he injured his shoulder and was never able to make a full recovery to return to playing pro ball. He instead joined the Army and spent a year in Vietnam, and then finished out his enlistment in Germany. By the age of 22 Jack had played 2 years of professional baseball, fought for his country in a war, and had visited cities in different countries such as Bangkok and London. After returning home from his enlistment, he went to work for the Southern California Gas Company where he eventually retired in 2004 as a Lead Planning Associate after 35 years with the company. In 1970 Jack married Diane Baker, and though their marriage didn't last they had his only biological child together, Jason. In 1983 he married Beverly Bullock and became a stepfather to her daughter Traci and son Brad. Jack loved all sports and enjoyed many years of coaching and supporting his kids in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, as well as Pop Warner football. He became a grandparent shortly after turning 40 and has two granddaughters - Nicole (Chris) Ashford and Courtney Johnson. He never thought of them as step-granddaughters because he was always there for them and was the only "Pop" they've ever known. In 2005 he added "great" to his title with the arrival of his two wonderful great grandsons, Cameron and Landon Ashford. Following his retirement Jack took up the game of golf and could typically be found on a golf course 3 to 4 days a week for a good decade after retirement. He and Beverly enjoyed travelling in their motorhome and going on cruises to places like Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico with friends and family. At home, Jack enjoyed working out in the yard and spending time with his two best friends, his dogs, Caddi and Lexi. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Wanda and Leon Hedrick, step-daughter Traci Bullock, step-son Bradley Bullock and great granddaughter Peyton. Graveside service for Jack will be held Friday, March 28th, 2025 at 1pm at the Visalia Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Jackie Lee Hedrick

July 20, 1946 - March 5, 2025