Henry "Hank" Lee Hudson was born on August 13, 1940 in Richmond, CA. He grew up with his parents, Lee & Mardie Hudson, and his brother Robert in the Bay Area. During High School, he excelled in athletics, namely track & field, football and basketball. After high school, he attended The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO where he played football and rugby and had the privilege of marching in President John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Parade in Washington DC.

After college, Hank went to work for Sonle Steel in San Francisco and then was hired on at Martin Marietta Corporation in Marysville, CA where he was transferred with the Titan project to Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1963. It was at Martin that he met his co-worker and the love of his life, Lota "Diane". They had a whirlwind romance and in 1964 Hank whisked her off to Las Vegas to become his bride. All of Hank's life, he always referred to Diane as his "Bride". He retired from Martin in 1985.

Throughout the next eight years, they had three children; Robert, Heather and Michael. Hank was a devoted family man and spent most of his time with his wife and children, caring for them as he would tend his garden. Together, they designed and built a family home all the way from the footings to the roof. He had many interests: traveling, airplanes, home projects, airplanes, hosting family parties, airplanes, cooking, airplanes, and reading his Bible.

In 1981, Hank, along with his wife Diane, opened their business, Graphic Systems in Lompoc and in 1994 they opened another office in Solvang. Over the years, Hank's three children came to work for him and it truly became a "family" business. Hank regarded his business not only as income, but as a community outreach opportunity. He had the honor over the years of donating time and money and printing to countless organizations and non-profits. His business was named, "Small Business Excellence Award for the Year 2008" by the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce. He loved his customers and always introduced himself with, "Greetings! I'm Hank, the owner's husband, and the tallest printer in Lompoc!" One of his greatest pleasures was baking trays of Christmas cookies and fudge with his grandchildren and then hand delivering them to his customers at the holidays.

Over the years, his family grew as his children married and had children of their own. Hank delighted in his grandchildren, lovingly instructing and teaching them and bravely taking them camping all by himself. Today, many of his grandchildren work at Graphic Systems after school. Hank opened his arms and his home to many people over his lifetime; brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and wayward teenagers. He took loving care of his mother in his home for the last 10 years of her life.

What Hank would most like to be remembered about him is that he was saved by grace. Hank had a deep abiding love for his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and would often share his experience with others. Many would ask him, "Hank, why are you so happy all of the time?" He would simply reply, "Jesus loves me." That was his testimony and his life.

Hank was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in April and was gently and peacefully taken home to be with the Lord on August 18, 2008.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Diane, his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Tracy Hudson, his daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Richard Bedford and his other son and his special friend, Michael Hudson and Jennifer Iverson. Hank is also survived by seven grandchildren: Tyler Hudson, Montgomery Hudson, Lindsey Hudson, Marlee Bedford, Halle Bedford, Seth Hudson and Harleigh Hudson, and one great-grandson Rier Henry, who will be born in January and named after him, all of Lompoc. He is also survived by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law as well as nieces, nephews, other extended family members and his devoted employees.

At his wish, and in lieu of a memorial service, a wonderful family gathering was held on August 10th to honor Hank for his birthday where many of his family members traveled to Lompoc to see him and at which he said "goodbye" in person to each of his loved ones.

Contributions can be made in his name to the Pregnancy Support Center of Lompoc, 601 E. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc CA 93436.

Arrangments are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.