Eloise Lyndon Rudy

Margaret Eloise Lyndon Rudy, widow of Jonas Karl Rudy, died on September 8, 2022. Born to Beulah Ingram Lyndon and Elias Carr Lyndon in Charlotte, NC, on October 6, 1923, she was raised in Atlanta, GA.

Karl and Eloise were married for 69 years until his death in 2015. Her beloved daughter, Katharine (Kathy) Rudy Bergmann died in 2019. She is survived by brother David Lowry Lyndon of Boston MA, daughter Margaret (Peggy) Rudy Taylor (Randy Duncan) of Greenville, SC, granddaughter, Catherine Traynham Haynes (Mike) of Simpsonville, SC, grandson, David Rudy Traynham (Melanie) of Olathe, KS, son-in law Kent Bergmann and his son Nic (Amber) of Olathe, KS, and great grandchildren, Mason and Leah Haynes, and Anna, Samuel, Owen, Aiden, Amir and Nyx Traynham.

Eloise graduated from Agnes Scott in 1945 with BA degrees in Mathematics and Physics and was a physics instructor there briefly until she accepted a position as a physicist at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, DC. Later in her career she received a MS degree in Science and Mathematics from Clemson University.

Karl and Eloise met in 1943 at the University of NC while she was in summer school and he was a US Naval Air Corps cadet. They reconnected when she was working in Washington and he was a first lieutenant stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. They married on December 1, 1945, at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. At the end of WWII, they moved to Atlanta where she taught physics at Agnes Scott while he attended Georgia Tech. After his graduation they moved to Greenville, and later to Simpsonville, where they lived for more than 60 years.

For over 50 years Eloise was a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (USA) in Mauldin, SC, where she served as a deacon, elder, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. She participated in all areas of the church's mission. In 2014 she was honored by the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Women as a Life Member of Presbyterian Women USA.

Eloise never intended to be a teacher but she applied for a substitute teacher position to make a little extra money. Six days later she found herself a full-time seventh grade teacher at Greenville Junior High, where she taught all subjects to forty-five students! She knew nothing about teaching and was thankful for her liberal arts education and for her fellow teachers who nurtured her in the ways of the classroom. She had found her calling and continued to work as an educator for the rest of her career.

Eloise taught math and science at Hughes Junior High for two years. In 1960 she transferred to Hillcrest High School where she taught math and physics to juniors and seniors for 12 years. In 1965 she received permission from the state to teach the first calculus course in a SC high school. In 1972 she accepted the position of K-12 Mathematics Consultant for Greenville County Schools working with teachers for 17 years to improve math instruction and to develop K-12 curriculum guides. The K-8 curriculum guides won two prestigious awards as best in the nation from the National Education Association. Eloise worked closely with the SC Department of Education during these years in areas of curriculum development and testing. In 1992 she was named Chair of the SC Mathematics Framework Committee to develop the first SC mathematics curriculum standards. For eight years she was honored to be an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at Furman University and the U of SC where she taught graduate math courses for teachers. She also assisted numbers of districts in the state in writing curriculum guides.

Eloise was an active member of many professional organizations including the local, state and national chapters of both the Teachers Association and the Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In 1975, the Greenville Council established a scholarship in her name: The Eloise Rudy Book Scholarship. In 1986 she was named Outstanding Mathematics Educator in the state by the SC Council of Mathematic Supervisors. She was a member of both Iota and Fidelis Alpha Chapters of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international sorority of women educators. Eloise was also a member of The Greenville Women's Club and was Membership Chair for many years. She served on the founding board for the Brashier Middle College Charter High School and served for six more years until the first class graduated, one of the highlights of her career.

After retirement Karl and Eloise traveled in the US and abroad. They also started two companies: Cottage Weavers, Inc., creating and selling hand-woven textiles; and MathPlus, Inc. providing their original mathematics testing materials to SC schools. Eloise had many interests and hobbies. She belonged to two book clubs. She loved drawing, painting, weaving, gardening, reading, solving number puzzles, and cooking her famous banana pudding. She loved all animals, especially cats. From her early childhood she always had at least one cat--often more. Karl and Eloise's properties were always animal sanctuaries where all animals great and small were welcomed.

As a committed Democrat, Eloise was intensely interested in local, state, national, and international affairs. She never missed an opportunity to vote, considering it not only a privilege but a Christian and civic responsibility. Her votes always reflected her concern for those in need, especially the poor and those seeking justice.

Eloise deeply loved her family and friends. She was a force of nature but also had a very gracious, social nature and a dry sense of humor. As a woman of great faith, integrity, generosity, and sense of justice, she set an example for the many people whose lives she touched. She will be greatly missed.

The family appreciates the visits, calls, and cards from her many friends and admirers. They brought such cheer to her. Special thanks to the incredible staff at Crescent Hospice and Jaime Sadler and her team of amazing caregivers at Sweet Senior Sitters, who enabled our dear Eloise to be happy and comfortable in her home as her health declined.

A memorial service will be held on October 8, 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (USA), 739 N Main St, Mauldin, SC 29662. The family will receive friends immediately after the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Capital Fund or to the Greenville Humane Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Rudy family.