George Hendrickson

A memorial service is scheduled for George Robert "Bob" Hendrickson at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Artesia, NM.

Mr. Hendrickson passed away March 3, 2018, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX, with family in his presence.

Pastor Monty Leavell will officiate at the service. Honorary pallbearers are Hendrickson's grandsons, Kevin Klein, Brennan Orr, Kevin Orr, David Collier, Lance Conklin and David Corley. He will be laid to rest at Woodbine Cemetery after a private family graveside service immediately preceding the church service.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, at Terpening & Son Mortuary. The family will greet visitors from 5-7 p.m. that evening.

Bob was born May 16, 1932, to George Hamlin and Velma Smith Hendrickson in Abilene, TX. He grew up in Wichita Falls, TX, where he completed high school in 1950, while simultaneously working through a Distributive Education program. He married Mary Louise Denney on June 16, 1951, in Wichita Falls, TX. He joined the United States Naval Reserve shortly after his marriage, in August 1951, and served as a pipefitter fireman until he was honorably discharged in January 1955.

Bob began his life long career with Ford Motor Company as a teen in his high school distributive education program, where he picked up and delivered auto parts on his bicycle for North Texas Motor Company, the local Ford dealer in Wichita Falls, where his father worked in sales. He continued working in the company's parts department through his service in the Naval Reserve. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Artesia, NM, in 1956, to work for Williams Terry Motor Company on Main Street. They lived in Artesia just two years before returning to Wichita Falls and then moving to Lovington, NM, where he continued working for Ford dealers. He and his family returned to Artesia in 1962, to work for Artesia Ford Sales.

He worked his way up as parts manager, service manager, and then general manager, until he and business acquaintance Robert Burgess decided to form a partnership to purchase Artesia Ford Sales. The team took over ownership March 7, 1966. The Hendrickson and Burgess families remained business partners and friends throughout the men's careers and continuing today.

Bob and the Artesia Ford Sales team received many awards and accolades over the years, locally and nationally, dating back to Merchant of the Month in 1967 by Artesia Businessmen's Association and customer service citations and sales records by Ford Motor Company. He was a beloved and committed businessman in Artesia for 52 years.

Outside his dedication to work, Hendrickson enjoyed visits to the family cabin near Cloudcroft and spending time with close friends and family. He served on the board of directors for Cloud Country, was a life member of Artesia Elks Club, and a member of First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bill Hendrickson.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the family home; daughters Mary Jane "Janie" Orr, husband David, of Plano, TX, and Susan Klein, husband Lex, of Artesia; grandchildren Kevin Klein, wife Hayley, of Artesia, Brennan Orr, wife Ashley, of Dallas, TX, Kevin Orr, wife Sarah, of Midland, TX, David Collier of Big Spring, TX, Cara Anne Collier, husband David Corley, of Buda, TX, and Allison Conklin, husband Lance, of Artesia; and great-grandchildren Kaylin Klein, and Klanclie, Gus and Kamryn Louise Conklin, all of Artesia, Emerson and Oliver Orr of Dallas, TX, Brandalynn and Lynox Orr of Midland, TX, and Caroline Jane Corley of Buda, TX. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Artesia Building Fund, PO Box 1492, Artesia, NM 88211.

Visitation

Terpening Son Mortuary
611 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Service

Memorial Service

First United Methodist Church
500 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Woodbine Cemetery
200 E. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210

Memorial Contributions

First United Methodist Church Building Fund
PO Box 1492
Artesia, NM  88211