Hulon Stringer

Hulon Stringer was born in Humphrey Co, Tennessee on September 11, 1922, to Nettie and Grady Stringer. Grady was a farmer and Nettie washed clothes for neighbors to make money. Hulon grew up on the banks of Indian Creek where he fetched their chilled milk from the same cold creek in which all his siblings and cousins spent their days swimming.

Life was difficult during the depression years. Eventually, as a teen, Hulon went to the CC Camps where he worked and sent money home to his family to take care of his two younger sisters, Reba and Virginia.

As a young man, Hulon started working in the garment industry in Waverly, Tennessee, where he first job was tying strings around shirts. In 1941-1945, he worked in the cutting room where he made patterns for army pants. In 1945 -1947, he made overalls in McEwen, Tennessee. In 1947, he relocated to Linden, TN, to work for Linden Apparel where they made dress pants, blue jeans and shirts. Regarding where he worked, he said, "I learned my job well and then moved on to learn all the other jobs trying to make myself indispensable."

Having had all this experience, he had made quite a name for himself. One day he was contacted by an investor from New York City, who had heard about his talent for learning and his worth ethic. In 1963, this man hired him to build a garment plant in Bolivar, Tennessee. Hardeman Garment Corporation made blue jeans and dress pants. One plant turned into 6 with locations in Bolivar, Lobelville, Ripley, and Lexington, in Tennessee, along with one in Bastrop, Louisiana and one in Tishomingo, Mississippi.

Hulon developed a love for flying after taking his first ride in a private plane in 1948 and then started taking lessons in 1956. During the years, he had several airplanes. His first plane was an Aeronica Champ. The others were a Piper Tripex, Cessna 170 and 172, twin engine Beechcraft Baron, single engine Comanche, twin engine Comanche and a pressurized Cessna 414. Since he loved to fly so much, he flew to each of his garment plants. He really enjoyed taking family and friends on the short 1 hour and 50 minute flight to Panama City, Florida, for vacations or just to go solely to eat oysters on the half shell at an oyster bar or perhaps, get a steak from Angelo's Steak House. His buddies, Billy Whitehurst and John V. Anderson would often fly there with him and have a contest to see who could eat the most oysters.

After having heart issues in 1987, he retired from flying, but that just led the way for him to pursue other adventures. He began woodworking in a shop in his home. Since he had so much experience with patterns, he decided to make a pattern to make a fiddle. Once he accomplished that, he decided to make guitars. Many days he spent 8 hours standing up building Martin pattern guitars. He purchased exotic woods to make the guitars and adorned them with inlayed pearl. Once assembled, he would stain and seal them with a nice finish. People who knew of his talent purchased his guitars, but since he loved to make them so much, he gave a few away and charged very little for the ones he sold. He made approximately30 fiddles and 100 guitars, some of which were for his children and grandchildren.

Other adventures included having a houseboat on Pickwick Lake where you could find him every weekend in the late 1970s to mid-1980s. He and his boating friends would boat hop and have pot luck dinners together while relaxing on the water. It was much like a family on the boating dock where he made lifelong friends.

Hulon had played the fiddle as a child with his dad at a very early age, but hadn’t had the time to devote to playing during the years he worked in the garment industry. He picked up his fiddle again, purchased a motorhome and began traveling across the country to bluegrass festivals. He so loved playing bluegrass on his fiddle and jamming with his new friends. Sometimes he would be a guest fiddler in the band, "Twice As Nice, that played at various events in the Dallas area. In the latter years, he traveled to Sarasota, Florida, for the winter months staying in a condominium where he enjoyed spending time with snowbird friends.

Hulon was married for 59 years to the sunshine of his life, Imogene Hatcher Stringer. They fell in love in their early teens and married on November 22, 1940. In November of 1942, their son Harvey Stringer was born. Many years later, their daughter, Anita Stringer, was born on August 11, 1956. Imogene passed away unexpectedly October 18, 1999, leaving all her family in despair. As Hulon continued to live his life almost 20 years longer to the month, he continued to grieve for the love of his life. During that time, he married Mary Jo DePriest who passed away on May 24, 2019.

Hulon can be remembered for his loyalty, generosity and kindness to all who knew him. Before his mom and dad passed, he flew his mother for her first trip in an airplane. His dad had a 1946 pickup when he surprised him with a new GMC truck.

Hulon was a true family man with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all adoring him. He certainly gave all his whole heart to his family and he knew how much they loved him. His song has ended, but his melody lives on in all our hearts.

Survivors include his children, Anita Stringer Bell (David) of Arkadelphia, AR, and Harvey Stringer (Brenda) of Bolivar; grandchildren, Shawn Stringer of Collierville, Susan Stringer Gooch (Harold) of Searcy, AR, Julee Bell Turner of Arkadelphia, AR, and Evan Bell (Rachel) of Conway, AR; great-grandchildren, Alexandria Hollowell (Ben) of Little Rock, AR, Hunter Gooch (Sabrina) of Searcy, AR, Harrison Gooch of Searcy, AR, Seth Bell of Conway, AR, Audrey Bell of Searcy, AR, Joshua Bell of Conway, AR, and Preslee Bell Turner of Arkadelphia, AR; and great-grandchildren, Henley Hollowell, and Lola Simmons.

Charitable contributions made in Mr. Stringer's memory may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate).