James David Hudgens of Tellico Village, Loudon, TN, passed away July 7, 2023, at age 85, from complications related to cancer.
Born in Salina, KS on May 26, 1938, to the late James S. Hudgens and Rosemary Holden. He was proceeded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lois M. Hudgens and his brother Mike. They had six sons; Timothy (Sheri) and Canton, GA; Patrick (Lisa) of Novi, MI; Christopher (Trisha) of Rogers, AR; John (Kelly) of Grand Blanc, MI; Brian (Christy) of Rockford, MI and Terry (Betsy) of Grand Rapids, MI; fifteen grandchildren: Robert (Dr. Katie), Stephen (Ashton), Megan, Sara Janca (Joe), Christina, Alex (Megan), Emily, Connor, Korinn, Taylor, Hannah, Sean, Madelyn, Katie and Ashley Hudgens; and six great grandchildren: Rilynn Jannakos , Emmett Manor, James, Bowen, Jack and Cooper Hudgens. He is also survived by his sister Susan Plancon of Columbus, OH; Steve (Chrissie) of Fenton, MI; and Ruth Hudgens of Salem, OR.
David was recently engaged to Linda Zschiedrich of Loudon, TN
Dave Hudgens worked briefly as a daily newspaper reporter before beginning a 38-year career with General Motors Corporation in public relations. His career included stints at both the Buick and Chevrolet divisions in Michigan, the GM Washington office, in GM’s Aerospace division in Milwaukee, and at the company’s Corporate Staff in Detroit. Later in his career, Dave was associated with GM’s international public relations efforts, handling PR in emerging markets and working with GM’s worldwide public relations staff.
After retiring in 1995, he worked as a freelance public relations writer, counselor and executive speechwriter in his own company, Wordbench and was affiliated with a Detroit PR firm as a consultant and senior counsel. Dave moved to Tellico Village in April 2000 where he began writing a weekly column on the Village for the Knoxville News-Sentinel called “Tellico Talkâ€.
He held a journalism degree from Marquette University and was a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Automotive Press Association.
Dave was a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. He was chairman of the Communications Advisory Committee for the Tellico Village Property Owners Association, member Tellico Village Homeowners Association, Friends of Tellico Village Library, Computer Users, Woodworks, Loudon County Habitat for Humanity, served as a captain in the Tellico Boaters Assistance Response Team (T-BART) and on the board of the Child Advocacy Center.
Dave will be remembered by for his gift of storytelling; not many jokes he hadn’t heard or shared.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City, TN at 2pm on Friday July 14, with inurnment following at St. Thomas. The family will greet visitors at the church at 1pm. preceding the Mass. Funeral Mass will be available via YouTube: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - Lenoir City
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of the following:
• Right to Life of TN 409 Welshwood Dr., Nashville TN 37211
• STAYinTV 202 Chota Rd., Loudon, TN 37774
• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1580 St. Thomas Way, Lenoir City, TN 37772
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