Jack Richard Hendricks passed away peacefully on June 16, one week shy of his 102nd birthday. Born on June 24, 1923 in Buffalo, NY he entered the US Army Air Corps before finishing high school and served as a Sergeant in the Pacific for four years with the 35^th Fighter Group, 40^th Fighter Squadron during WWII. Returning home he finished high school and then received a BS in Economics at Canisius College, Buffalo in 1951. He continued his education at both the University of Buffalo and the University of Delaware.

While working at a Texaco station he frequented  Drescher’s Candy Store next door and caught the eye of Kitty Carson working the counter. They were subsequently married for 54 years until she passed away in 2006.

On May 21, 1949 he became a Master Mason at Fellowship Lodge No. 1175 in Buffalo and remained a member for 76 years. After moving to Delaware he continued in the service of Freemasonry at Hiram Lodge No. 25 in Newark.

In 1959, after the closing of the American Machine and Foundry plant in Buffalo, where he was a Quality Control Supervisor, he found new employment at Thiokol Chemical Co., in Elkton, Maryland, retiring in 1985 as Head of the Inspection Section.

In addition to Kitty Hendricks, his great love was the game of golf. A gymnast in his youth, he discovered golf as an adult. The family joined Cavaliers Country Club where Kitty and Jack played frequently and participated in at least two tournaments a week. After retirement they hit the road searching for the perfect public golf course and found their second favorite club at Seascape in Destin, Florida. Enjoying it so much, they became snowbirds and stayed there every winter. Jack continued to play golf until age 95 when he reluctantly gave it up.

Life slowed down but he was determined to avoid going into a nursing home and his children were able to help him fulfill his wish. Jack remained incredibly strong, climbing the stairs daily in his split level home of 65 years. His resolve, and stubbornness, kept him in his home until the end.

He was preceded in death by wife Gladys “Kitty” Norma Hendricks in 2006, brother Robert Alan Hendricks in 2014  and daughter Joanne Patricia Wooldridge (Robert Wooldridge) in 2020.  Survived by sons Gerald John and James Edward Hendricks and daughter Suzanne Marie Nagle (Michael Nagle), grandchildren Lori Nagle Wronowicz (Ronald Wronowicz), Jessica Hendricks Huss (Jay Huss),  Anne Michele Hendricks, Robert Michael Wooldridge (Amanda Lewis Wooldridge), Jeffrey John Wooldridge (Jenna Pulcinella Wooldridge), Steven James Wooldridge (Sarah Hammond Wooldridge) and thirteen great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on July2, 2025 at R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 W Main St., Newark, DE, with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. A Masonic Memorial Service will begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by a military ceremony at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd, Bear, DE 19701 at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation.