Robert "Bob" Arthur Rudkin

94, passed away October 6, 2017 in Wichita. Bob was born March 4, 1923 to Samuel and Marion (Collins) Rudkin at home in Fort Scott, Kans., the youngest of 4 boys and 3 girls. He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1941, attended Fort Scott Junior College for 3 semesters, served in the US Army in North Africa and Italy in World War 2, and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Business in 1948. Bob lettered in track in high school and played basketball and tennis in high school and junior college.

In 1948 he met Charlotte Worthy in Des Moines, Iowa, where both worked at the time, and on January 21, 1950, they were married in a small ceremony in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. Their first child, Tom, was born in Queens. In 1952 they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where daughter Terry was born, and in 1958 they moved to Wichita, where son Gary was born. The family joined West Heights United Methodist Church in 1959. They continued to live in Wichita until 1977, and then again from 1986-2017. Their three children attended Peterson Elementary School, Hadley and Wilbur Junior High Schools, and West High School. Bob regularly followed KU basketball and enjoyed golf, tennis, bowling, and woodworking. He played bridge and sang in a choir at Reflection Ridge, and was active in Methodist Men earlier in his life.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Charlotte in 2011; his parents; brothers Samuel “Glenn,” Donald, and Leo “Earl”; and sisters Louise Sauvain, Marion “Betty” Buckmaster, and Edith Prince. He is survived by sons Tom (Jann) Rudkin of Los Gatos, Calif. and Gary (Constance) Rudkin of Norman, Okla.; daughter Terry (Ed) Martin of Pittsburg, Kans.; grandchildren Heather (James Reischutz) Rudkin, Paul (Kara) Martin, Matthew (Kristie) Martin, Katie (Jared) Ellis, Lynette (Nate) Dooling, Jason (Rebecca) Rudkin, Garrett (Ashley) Rudkin, Brandon (Erica) Rudkin, Darren (Jennifer) Rudkin, Erica (Shawn) Stafford and Jessica (AJ) Edmonds; and 33 great grandchildren. A visitation will be held at Resthaven Mortuary on Saturday, October 14 at 9:00 am, with funeral service to follow at 10. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob’s name to KU Endowment Assoc. or Via Christi Village Ridge.