Dallas Hudson Obituary

Dallas McLeod Hudson, 92, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025 at Brighton Gardens of Charlotte.
Dallas was born on April 21, 1933 in Charlotte, the son of Thomas Lester Hudson and Annie Prue Moss Hudson. He grew up in First Ward and attended Tech High School.
Dallas joined the Navy at age 17, beginning what was to become an ongoing passion for service to country. After boot camp, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 102, Breezy Point. He went on to graduate from Aviation Machinist Class A school at NATTC in Millington, Tennessee, after which he served as part of the aircraft overhaul-repair department at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville until the end of his first enlistment. After quickly reenlisting, Dallas was sent to serve with the "Black Aces" of Fighter Squadron 41, Naval Air Station, Ocean Virginia VF 41. The Black Aces were the first tailhook squadron on the east coast with nuclear weapon delivery capabilities. During this time, Dallas served on two carriers, the USS Bennington, and the USS Randolph. Following this duty, Dallas graduated from Aviation Machinist Mate School, Class B, and was assigned to Utility Squadron 10, Naval Air Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served for two years until his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1960.
During his years of naval service, Dallas was awarded the Good Conduct Medal twice, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Navy Occupation Medal, which he cherished in particular because it made him eligible for membership to the VFW.
Dallas began his civilian career in continued service to the US government, this time as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service. He spent 28 years delivering mail and retired in 1988. After a short break, he took a "retirement job" with Royal Insurance where he worked an additional 12 years and retired fully in 2000.
Throughout his civilian life, Dallas was a devoted member of the VFW and the American Legion. He considered it a privilege to have served his country and was firmly committed to continuing to serve as a civilian in support of all service members and fellow veterans. He supported the organization in countless activities and held the office of Judge Advocate for VFW Post 9488 for two years.
One area of service which was close to his heart was the VFW's support of Classroom Central, which fosters equity in education by providing school supplies to students and teachers in need across the Charlotte region. For many years, Dallas also supported St. Ann Catholic Church's homeless mission by shopping for groceries to provide meals for those taking refuge at Crisis Assistance Ministry's Women and Children's Shelter.
Throughout his life, Dallas loved bluegrass music and had encyclopedic knowledge of fiddlers, songwriters, fabled jam sessions and all kinds of "truegrass" lore. He was also an avid golfer, who twice made holes-in-one. Throughout it all, he was devoted to his "peach", Kathleen, to whom he was married for more than six decades. He was also very proud of his three children and particularly his grandchildren, who brought him great joy.
Dallas is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathleen O'Connor Hudson, of Charlotte; daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mike) Husak of Charlotte; son Joseph Dallas Hudson of Greenville, SC; daughter Kathleen Ann (Robert) Llewellyn of Charlotte; grandchildren Sean Michael Husak, Maya Grace Llewellyn and Patrick Joseph Husak; aunt Peggy Hill of Charlotte; brothers-in-law Pat O'Connor of Jackson, NJ and Mike O'Connor of Mooresville and sisters-in-law Judy O'Connor of Merritt Island, FL; Sherrie O'Connor of Mooresville and Nancy Hudson of Charlotte; and several nieces and nephews. Dallas was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings Nancy Foster and Joe Elmore Hudson, and six half-siblings, Earl Deese, Grace Rogers, Margaret Robbins, Carl Deese, O.J. Deese and Betty Jo Hughes.
The family would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the staff of Brighton Gardens of Charlotte, and to VIA Hospice & Palliative Care who so lovingly cared for Dallas during his final months. The family is also grateful to the support of VFW Post 1160 in fulfilling Dallas's final wishes.
A graveside service celebrating Dallas's life will be held on Monday, July 28th at 10:30am at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the Veterans Relief Fund via VFW Post 1160, 2831 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC, 28205.