Frederick Henry Hudson Sr., 1923–1985

Born on 30 July 1923 in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas, Frederick Henry Hudson Sr. was the son of Willie Miller Hudson and Velva Mae (Morton) Hudson. He grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas; Apalachicola, Florida; Toledo, Ohio; and Bragg City, Missouri. Frederick attended the integrated Birmingham Grade School in Toledo, Ohio, from 1930 to 1931 while living with an uncle. He completed grade school in Bragg City and three years of high school at Hayti High School in Hayti, Pemiscot County, Missouri, in 1941.

On 29 December 1941, Frederick married Ella Mae Griffin, born on 10 November 1923 in Joiner, Mississippi County, Arkansas, who died on 7 January 1999 in St. Louis County, Missouri. She was the daughter of David and Mattie (Adams) Griffin. Frederick and Ella Mae had three children. Their oldest son, Frederick Jr., was born on 7 February 1947 and died on 15 June 2008 in St. Louis County. Frederick, Sr., his wife Ella Mae, Frederick Jr. and wife Michelle (Williams) Story Hudson are buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Frederick and Ella Mae are in Section MM1319; son Frederick Jr. and his wife are in Section 1IIB, Site 3727.

Based upon Frederick Sr.’s military records, he worked for Usona Manufacturing Company of St. Louis City for one and a half years prior to his military service. He and Ella Mae lived in the 3600 block of Finney Avenue in St. Louis City. After being drafted into the Army on 3 July 1943 at Jefferson Barracks Army Post, Frederick completed basic training with the Army Air Force, 303rd Training Wing in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was then assigned to the 320th Technical School Squadron, Wichita Falls, Texas, Sheppard Field, to train as an airplane mechanic. On 22 April 1944, he was assigned to the 332nd Aviation Squadron at Laughlin Field, Del Rio, Texas, and later the 2514th Army Air Force-BU. Frederick was separated by the 2517th Air Force at Ellington Field, Texas, and honorably discharged as a corporal on 2 March 1946 at Jefferson Barracks Army Post, St. Louis, after serving for forty-four months.

After his discharge, Frederick established Fred Hudson Scrap Iron & Metal, Inc., located at 3960 Page Boulevard, St. Louis City, a business which became a very profitable operation for him over a thirty-seven year period. He later opened E & H Auto Parts (Ella and Hudson), 570 Edwards Avenue in Hazelwood, Missouri. The businesses were turned over to the two Hudson sons upon Frederick Sr.’s death. However, the sons eventually lost both businesses.

Frederick Sr., his wife Ella Mae and their family lived in the City of St. Louis on Lambdin Avenue, Taylor Avenue, and Natural Bridge. They later moved to homes in Bel Nor and Frontenac, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Their three children were well educated and all became educators; one became a psychologist.

(Sources are from personal knowledge, interviews, family documents, marriage records, census and court records, death certificates, newspaper articles, a deed, and obituaries.)

Written by Eloise Bernice (Hudson) Hunt
December 2016

© 2016, St. Louis Genealogical Society

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