He was raised and educated in Texas, and had an interest in music from early in life. He began studying piano at 5 years of age and pipe organ at 16 years. After graduation from high school in 1935, he played the pipe organ for the Vernon Theater in Vernon, TX for a year before entering Texas A&M, graduating in 1940 with a B.S. Degree in Pre-Med. He also played the organ weekly over Station WTAW in 1939 and 1940.
In 1941 he became a pilot in the Army Air Corps which became the US Air Force and married Maxine Heikens in 1942. He was a pilot-instructor in Basic Trainers and Advanced trainers (Mitchell B-25 Bombers) and retired from Air Force active duty in December 1945 but remained in the Air Force Reserves for many years.
He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons School of Dentistry in San Francisco, received his dental degree in 1949, and practiced dentistry for 36 years in Hanford, CA where he and his wife raised 2 daughters. In 1982 after 40 years of marriage to Jack, Maxine passed away. He was an active member in the Masonic Fraternity since 1954 and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star since 1956 and the Lions Club since 1949. He later remarried and moved back to Texas where he was active in many activities in the local area, included playing in a band, until he was into his 90’s.
He was preceded in death by his second wife, Barbara Jean Rudy, who died on March 28, 2018, as well as his brother, Isaac Newton Rudy. He is survived by his two daughters Patricia Huneke of Albuquerque, NM, and Judith Murphy and her husband Patrick of Los Angeles, CA. He also had 3 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, plus a very loving extended second family in Texas.
A Visitation will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 9:00 am with the Funeral Service starting at 10:00 am at People’s Funeral Chapel; 501 N Douty St, Hanford. Burial to follow at Hanford Cemetery; 10500 S 10th Ave, Hanford.
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