Obituary of Louise Gantt Hydrick

Louise Gantt Hydrick, 96, of West Columbia passed away peacefully with family on March 23, 2018 in Lexington, South Carolina. She was born on December 5, 1921 in Sumter, SC to the late Robert Luther and Emily Creighton Gantt. Lucy graduated from Winthrop University in 1943 and became an air traffic controller at Owens Field during WWII. She was a kindergarten and Sunday school teacher, and a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Lucy married the late John H. Hydrick on September 6, 1947 after his return from WWII where he was a POW. She was his legal secretary for many years. The family moved to Columbia after John earned his law degree and moved to West Columbia in 1966. Lucy liked to take weekend trips to the beach and to her mountain house, where she sat in her rocker overlooking the lake. She was an avid reader prior to her blindness but continued listening to books on tape. Lucy also enjoyed woodworking, camping with family, crocheting, knitting, baking caramel cakes and playing cards with her friend, Mr. Al. Lucy is survived by a daughter, Mary E. "Robin" Shumate (Roger) of Leesville; son, Michael G. Hydrick (Cindy) of Lexington; grandchildren: Darrell White of Atlanta, John White of Las Vegas, David Shumate of Leesville, Cody (Christina) Hydrick of Lexington, Juliann Hydrick of Hendersonville, Jennifer (Zane) Newton of Greenville; great-grandchildren: Shawn White, Annalise, Charlotte and Natalie White; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Hydrick; a son, Robert Randy Hydrick; and a sister, Emily Lowe. A special thank you to her home caregivers: Sandra, Lois, Laurie, Ashley, Robin and Myrna. The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073 on Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at Ebenezer Lutheran Church 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201 on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209 following the service.