Aldene Hudson, Jr.

Aldene (Dean) Hudson, Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 11, 2025. We will miss our husband, dad, grandad, brother, uncle, and friend.

Dean was born in Denton, Texas, on July 13, 1942. He was raised in Hereford, Texas, and graduated from Hereford High School in 1960. Dean attended West Texas Barber College in Amarillo and completed his license in August 1961.

Dean proudly served his country in the Navy from December 1961 to April 1966 as a second-class radioman and teletype repairman. He served during the Vietnam War and Cuban Missile Crisis on the USS Francis Marion troop transport. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. As a sailor, he got to see the world traveling to Spain, Italy, France, Malta, the Caribbean Islands, England, and Norway. 

He met the love of his life, Donna Sue Blythe, while working as a lifeguard at the Hereford city pool. They married on November 14, 1963, and recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. They raised their two children, Danene and Drew, in Lubbock and Arlington.

Dean worked as a barber for 60 years. He worked in various shops in Amarillo and Lubbock before he and Donna moved their family to Arlington in 1980. Dean worked as a barber instructor at Texas Hairdesigners School. Together, they opened Hudson’s Family Barber Shop in July 1990 serving the Arlington community for 30 years. Due to his knowledge and experience, he was chosen to serve on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Advisory Board on Barbering.

Dean loved sports and coached Little League baseball and softball. He loved watching his grandsons play football and baseball for many years. Dean also enjoyed vacationing in Ruidoso, NM, the horse races, playing golf, and a good game of poker. He spoiled us by cooking huge breakfast spreads and barbecuing ribs for family get-togethers. He was generous in giving lots of dog treats to his family pets throughout the years. He treasured his straight razor and marble collections and always gave a marble to family and friends. Dean loved sharing stories about his time in the Navy and was still proficient at reciting Morse Code. You could always count on Dean to tell a funny joke or story and we will miss his mischievous laugh.

He was preceded in death by parents, Aldene and Edith Hudson. He is survived by beloved wife, Donna; daughter, Danene Hudson of Arlington, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Drew and Linda Hudson of The Woodlands, TX; grandsons, Parker, Brad, and Hank Hudson of The Woodlands, TX; brother, WaaDee Hudson of Sherman, TX; sister, Martha Lytal of Hereford, TX; sister-in-law, Sandy Smith of Plainview, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eddie and Liz Sebastian of Lubbock, TX; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse, or charity of your choice.