Thomas Jack Hege

Thomas Jack Hege, 89, of Lexington died June 18, 2016, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home after a brief illness. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22nd, at Davidson Funeral Home, 301 North Main Street in Lexington. The memorial service will take place at 3:00 at the funeral home followed by a procession to Pilgrim Reformed Church at 797 Pilgrim Church Road where a graveside service will be held. Mr. Hege was born February 9, 1927, in Davidson County to Ellen Josephine Hilliard Hege and Joe Harvey Hege, Sr. He worked for and retired from Frank Ix & Sons in Lexington. He was an avid boater who spent many hours piloting his young nieces and nephews on High Rock Lake. He was an excellent auto mechanic, devoting his skills and his time not only to his own vehicles but to his relatives’ and friends’ vehicles as well. The greatest joy of his life was watching auto racing. He attended 53 consecutive Daytona 500 races, from 1959 to 2011. In 2009, NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway officials gave him garage passes and invited him to the pre-race drivers’ meeting (along with actor Tom Cruise) where NASCAR President Mike Helton introduced him to the competitors. In 2011, he was convinced he would not be able to go because of health issues. But when his doctor cleared him to travel, championship car owner Richard Childress stepped in and offered to fly him and his friend Don Beck to Daytona on his private plane, and they were guests of Mr. Childress’ for the race. Jack’s record attendances earned him inclusion in a book about NASCAR race fans, “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans.” Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister Faye Hege Howell Stone; his brothers Joe H. Hege, Jr., Ronald Hege, and Guy Hege; and his niece Elaine Howell Hodges. Surviving are his brother Donald Hege and wife Phyllis of Lexington; his sister-in-law and dear friend Mrs. Joe H. Hege, Jr. (Jane) of Lexington; sisters-in-law Mrs. Ronald Hege (Lucille) of Greensboro and Mrs. Guy Hege (Bobbie) of Jamestown; nieces Karen Hege Watford of Thomasville, Janice Howell O’Dell of Kernersville, Cynthia (C. C.) Howell Winslow of Winston-Salem, Jeanna Howell Ojeda of Palm Harbor, FL, Kaye Hege Spaugh of Lexington, Jan Hege Galloni of Jamestown, Susan Hege Kirschner of Greensboro, Deatra Hege Younce of Blowing Rock and Southern Pines; and nephews Joe H. Hege, III of Cary, Edwin L. Hege of New Bern, Donald Hege, Jr. of Lexington, Kevin Hege of Greensboro, and Patrick Hege of Church Road, VA. His family would like to thank his caregivers Debra, Monika, Karen, and Crystal for their compassionate care. We are also grateful to the nurses, doctors, and staff at Baptist Hospital and the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home who made his final days as peaceful as possible. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Meals on Wheels Davidson County, 104 E. Center Street, Lexington, or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net.