Dates
Alan “Dean” Hudgins peacefully passed into heaven on September 13, 2024 with his loving family at his side after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Dean was born on October 28, 1945, in Coleman, Texas, to Alvin N. and Thelma Brown Hudgins. Dean grew up in the small town of Talpa, Texas, where he attended school before moving to Ballinger when he was a freshman in high school.
While in public school, Dean walked home for lunch every day to a hot meal his mom always prepared for him and his brother, Roger. Dean played football and basketball at Ballinger High School and baseball in the summers. Dean developed a sense of determination and drive through experiences at his father’s Exxon service station. Dean and Roger worked in the station after school and on weekends. He continued to fill the gas tanks, wash, and wax his and his family’s vehicles, keeping them spotless and in pristine condition, until his illness would not allow him to continue. This meticulousness carried over to the things Dean took great pride in: his perfect yard, his garden, and his home.
Dean graduated from Texas Tech in 1969 with a double major in journalism and history, and later earned two master’s degrees from Angelo State University. Dean began his teaching and coaching career in Rotan, Texas, in 1969 and retired as a central office administrator in San Angelo, Texas. Dean’s deep, booming voice served him well as disciplinarian; as a teacher, and school administrator, but masked his tender, caring heart for the thousands of students he reached over his 34 years in education.
Dean met Janet Miller of Seymour, Texas, at Texas Tech during summer school in 1967. Fortuitously, Dean called Janet the next day to ask her out, starting a 56 year-long love story. They married in 1968 and welcomed their precious and cherished daughter, Alisen, in 1978. No child ever had more loving, doting parents, and the three of them remained close-knit until the end.
Dean enjoyed playing, coaching and watching sports. His grandsons put Papa to the test to travel and watch them play all over the state. He seldom missed a scrimmage, game or school event. He loved golf, specifically playing with his son-in-law, Brandon, and his grandsons. In addition, Dean was proud of his country and never skipped an opportunity to honor and pray for our veterans. Above all his interests was his love for Jesus, and his faith was apparent in all that he accomplished.
Dean is survived by his devoted wife, Janet; his daughter Alisen and her husband Brandon Sanders, the son Dean never had; and four grandsons, Bryson, Jackson, Mason, and Hudson, all of San Angelo. His extended family includes sisters-in-law Pat Hudgins, Annette Miller, and Minda Parks; and brothers-in-law Larry Miller and Don Parks, several cousins including Sybil Dotson and Pat Revel, and nieces and nephews Charla Carlson, Brint Parks, Chelsi Orsak, Ryan Miller, Ryan Higgins, Andrew Higgins and Courtney Goldwitz.
A visitation will be held on Monday, September 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Harper Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at Southland Baptist Church, in San Angelo, on Tuesday, September 17, at 11:00 a.m. To honor Dean’s vibrant life, guests are invited to wear any color attire. A private graveside burial will be in Seymour, Texas, in a multi-generational family plot. Honorary pallbearers include Bryson, Jackson, Mason, and Hudson Sanders. The family would like to thank Laura Perez and Margaret Patterson for their help caring for Dean and “his girls” in his last few days.