Clarence H. "Sonny" Hendricks

Birth date: Feb 25, 1944 Death date: Oct 30, 2025

Clarence H “Sonny” Hendricks, of Tacoma, Washington, passed away on October 30, 2025, at age 81. Sonny was born on February 25, 1944 in Detroit, MI, to parents Cole and Jane Hendricks. He joined the United States Army as a young Read Obituary

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Rosanne Nitti

2w ago

Fun times in Maui working for Papillion Helicopters. This is where I met Sonny and Beverly. These were some of the best times of my life. Rest in Paradise Sonny. 💓🙏🏼

Wm Maddox

4w ago

Sonny Hendricks, My best friend for over thirty years, we have shared so much of life flying, fishing, working on his 68 Camero and Friday beer, he will be missed so much and remembered always.
Sonny was an extraordinary man loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a scuba diver, sky diver world traveler and exceptional helicopter pilot.. He was a Vietnam vet flying Huey's and continued to fly UH-1's his Army carrier. Sonny flew medevac's and in 1980 was one of the first search and rescue helicopters to flying on Mt St Helens after it erupted.
After retirement he flew in the gulf out to the oil rigs, he flew tour helicopters in Hawaii, he flew medevac helicopters in the Grand Canyon area and he and his crew saved many lives.
He finished his flying carrier as a Helitack fire fighting pilot for the State of Washington. He was friend to many respected by all, I was blessed to have been his friend.

Have a good flight Sonny
Rex Maddox

Matt Stein

4w ago

Sonny and I were the Classic Lifeguard pilots that transitioned from a seasonal program to a year round one in 1992. We covered an area of 4000 square miles around the Colorado Plateau with one rescue helicopter team based out of Page, Arizona. There were no cellphones, internet or weather reporting system. We operated day and night without night vision goggles and always returned safely with our crews. A great friend and aviator. Rest in peace my brother, you have forever earned your wings!

Ray Leese

4w ago

My favorite memory of Sonny was all the years working with him as a 3 member emergency medical flight crew based in the Grand Canyon area. I was the flight medic and Sonny was our pilot. We saved a lot of lives and had a lot of fun doing it. Sonny was not only an excellent pilot but he was an integral part of the medical team. Sonny had a favorite saying " There's bold pilots and old pilots but no old bold pilots". Sonny was an old, bold pilot and I love him very much.
Ray Leese

Megan Pike

4w ago

Sonny was truly one of the best pilots I ever had the privilege to work with on wildfires. He loved to fly fast and low with a big smile on his face.
Thank you for always having our backs and supporting us all on the ground.

Linda Adolphson

4w ago

The memories are many and special. Sonny flew with John but after retirement, we had the best foursome for cards and travel adventures. So much fun as we explored together. Damn, Sonny, we are going to miss you so much. We smile every time we think of you and our hearts break for our dear friend, Char, and the blended family. John and Linda Adolphson

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