Obituary of George R. Hedberg

George R. Hedberg, 84, of 28 Terrace Place, died Thursday February 23, 2012, in the Erie VA Medical Center. A Jamestown native, he was born December 3, 1927, the son of the late George W. and Linnea Anderson Hedberg. He was a 1945 graduate of the former Celoron High School and later graduated from Jamestown Business College. He was a veteran of the US Air Force enlisting during WWII and serving in the post-war occupation of Japan. Following discharge from active service he served in the reserves and was called back to active duty during the Korean War. Stationed in Enid , OK, he was sent to Nevada for a week where he participated in the "Ranger" series of atomic bomb tests performing field weather tests. Prior to his retirement he owned and operated Hedberg's Television Service. He was a member of War Vets Recreation. He loved aircraft and earned his pilot's license in 1942 at the age of 15 -- before being of age for his driver's license. He owned a "Culver V" 2-seat aircraft for a few years in the late 40's and flew it out of the Falconer and Jamestown airports. He also enjoyed restoring various vehicles, boats and a motorcycle, including 2 Jaguar E-Types, an old 1910's Harley Davidson, and a high-speed hydroplane he drove on Chautauqua Lake and the Chadakoin River. Those hobbies gave him much pleasure however, they could never replace the joy he felt traveling to various parts of the country to spend time with family. Surviving are his wife of 62 years the former Elaine Peterson, whom he married January 28, 1950; three children Elizabeth (Joseph) Graves of Yorktown, VA, Cynthia (Kevin) Sorenson of Jamestown and Richard (Ann Marie) Hedberg of Rush, NY; five grandchildren Davin Sorenson of Little Rock, AR, Elizabeth (Ben) Richard of Salem, MA, Taylor Cole of Yorktown, VA and Adam and Elaina Hedberg, both of Rush, NY and a sister Rosalie Pembridge of Lakewood, NY. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Ramon Hedberg. Friends will be received from 2-3 p.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may light a candle in remembrance of George at www.lindfuneralhome.com