Eric D. Hedeen

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Sarabeth Simonson

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant 1987–1991

Eric was born in 1963 in Everett, Washington and grew up on his family’s orchard in Malaga. He enjoyed hunting and fishing while working in the orchard alongside horses and a pair of memorable Dalmatian dogs. He attended Wenatchee schools and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1982. He was also a member of Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue.

Eric continued his education at Washington State University, where he joined ROTC and was president of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated with a degree in architecture and worked for a local architect when he designed the Wenatchee downtown pavilion.

In 1989, he married Susan, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was stationed at Eaker Air Force Base.

During the Gulf War in 1991, he was stationed with the 97th Bombardment Wing at Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, serving as an Electronics Warfare Officer onboard a B-52 bomber. On February 3, 1991 while returning from a mission, the aircraft lost an engine and all electrical power. The six-member crew bailed out under 2,000 feet. Three crew members were rescued from the ocean amid burning wreckage. The next day Eric’s body was found attached to his life raft.

Eric was interred at Evergreen Memorial Park in East Wenatchee, with full military honors and a B-52 flyover.

His parents created a scholarship at the WSU College of Engineering and Architecture in his name.

Eric was intelligent, thoughtful and funny, and he displayed these traits with everyone he knew.

Eric’s story was proudly submitted by his brother Kurt Hedeen and sister Valerie Hedeen McInnes in whose memories Eric remains animated and laughing. Also supported with the sponsorship from 3J’s Orchard