Ralph Martin Hendricks

Ralph Martin "Tad" Hendricks, 86, of Charleston, SC, widower of Margaret Bowers "Peggy" Hendricks, entered into eternal rest Friday, December 18, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. A graveside service will be held Monday, December 21, 2015, in Magnolia Cemetery, 70 Cunnington Avenue, at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

Tad was born March 8, 1929, in Charlotte, NC, son of the late Margaret Newman and Ralph Martin Hendricks. Amongst his many accomplishments, he honorably served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was a graduate of The Citadel and received a Master's degree from the University of Virginia. This led Tad to a career in paper manufacturing at West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (Westvaco), where he served as manager of Industrial and Community Relations. He was a member of St. Philip's Church, St. Andrew's Society, the South Carolina Society, the Agricultural Society of South Carolina, the Carolina Yacht Club, and the Charleston Club. Tad was very active in the Charleston community and joyfully served on numerous civic and corporate boards and foundations including serving as chairman of the board of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, past president of the Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the first five lay member trustees of St. Francis Xavier Hospital and a trustee of Roper Hospital.

He is survived by his three daughters, Lynn Hills (John), Anne Crawford (Lex), and Buie Shisko (Joe), all of Charleston and two sons, Theodore M. Hendricks (Brucie) of Mt. Pleasant, and Ralph M. Hendricks Jr. (Jennifer) of Charleston. Tad felt, one of his life's greatest accomplishments was his family. Affectionately known as "Ta", he is survived by fourteen grandchildren: Thomas Hutto (Lindsay), Eliza Cantwell (Josh), Brucie Smith (Jacob), Teddy Hendricks, Mary Guerry (Glynn), Torrey Crawford, Spencer Crawford, Anne Merrill Crawford, McEachern Hendricks, Lawton Hendricks, Sarah Bryce (Mike), Joseph Shisko Jr., Seabrook Shisko (Marghretta), and McKinnon Shisko; and five great-grandchildren: Bowers, Ellis, Thomas, Sophie, and Ella; and his dependable and ever faithful Trisha. And also his sister-in-law, Betty Boswell; niece, Ellen, and nephew, Malcom.