Cover photo for Robert Hetrick's Obituary
Robert Hetrick Profile Photo
1940 Robert 2024

Robert Hetrick

March 31, 1940 — June 7, 2024

Waveland

Robert Hugh Hetrick (Hugh) passed away on June 7, 2024, following a brief illness.  He was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi March 31, 1940, to Reverend John Harold Hetrick and Lessie Turner Hetrick.  He was raised in Mississippi and primarily grew up in Ocean Springs where his father was the minister of St. Paul Methodist Church for 8 years.  He enjoyed sailing and swimming in the Mississippi Sound and Back Bay.  

Hugh graduated from Copiah- Lincoln High School in 1958.  He enlisted in the AirForce in 1961 and was trained in data processing.  After four years of service, he entered civilian life and worked for State Farm in Jackson as a computer operator.  He then went to Houston, Texas in 1968 to work for Lockhead at the NASA Space Center as a computer operator during the first moon landing.  He met his wife, Ethel Edna Wiest, at a Methodist Church single’s coffee club in 1969 and they were married on February 14, 1970.   They moved from Houston in 1971 to Dallas area to attend school.  Hugh used his GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology in 1973 and a master’s degree in education in 1974 form the University of North Texas.   He taught industrial technology at the junior high and high school level in Louisiana, Arizona, and Texas until retiring in 2000.  The highlight of his teaching career was a NASA Educational Leadership training program at Edwards Air Force base in California.  He was at the time the only industrial arts teacher in Texas to have been accepted in the program.  His 8th grade students were building robots and flying drones in the 1990’s.

Hugh was also a fantastic gardener.  He and Ethel moved to Waveland, Mississippi in 2005, to be near his beloved Mississippi Sound.  He loved growing roses and having a vegetable garden.  He also continued his childhood passion for building RC model airplanes.   He and Ethel enjoyed camping throughout the country form Maine to Key West, Florida to Glacier National Park in Montana as well as traveling to Europe and China.

Hugh was preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife Ethel Hetrick; his two sons, John E. Hetrick (Maryann)pf Irving, Texas and Samuel L. Hetrick of Little Elm, Texas; and two grandchildren, John and William Hetrick.  He is also survived by his three brothers, John Harold Hetrick, Jr. (Margarette) of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Thomas Henry Hetrick (Linda) of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Gilbert Harvey Hetrick (Diane) of Arlington, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will take place at Biloxi National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 11:00 am.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society or to your favorite charity.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Waveland, is serving the family. 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Hetrick, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Graveside Service

Thursday, June 13, 2024

11:00 - 11:30 am (Central time)

Biloxi National Cemetery

400 Veterans Ave, Biloxi, MS 39531

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