Richard E. Rudolf Sr.

He was born in Keene, NH, October 18, 1921, the youngest of ten children to William B. and Emily A. (Zecha) Rudolf. A lifelong resident of Keene, he attended Symonds School in Keene, leaving school after completing the eighth grade. However, he never stopped learning and completed correspondence courses in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Mr. Rudolf was a World War II Army Air Corp veteran serving in the 959th Air Engineer Squadron in England, Italy and Africa where he packed parachutes for the paratroopers. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Sergeant.

While stationed in Savannah he met Billie Johnson who became his wife of 64 years. They were married in Spofford, NH, January 1, 1945, while Mr. Rudolf was home on a 30-day leave. Following his military obligation, the couple resided in Keene, first on Colorado Street, then Coolidge Street, and from 1950 until 2009, on Needle Street.

Mr. Rudolf worked as a supervisor of the weave room for 25 years with the former International Narrow Fabric in Keene. He later worked for 18 years with Markem Corporation in Keene as an assembly tester. He was a lifelong Christian and joined the Methodist Church upon his marriage to Billie. A member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Keene, he served in many servant leader positions in the church including; Chair of the Trustees, the Administrative Board, as well as spending many hours caring for the church facility. Determined to provide for his family, Mr. Rudolf worked many second jobs over the years.

He was a Mason with the Social Friends Lodge #42 in Keene. Mr. Rudolf actively supported his family in their participation in all kinds of activities including; the Methodist Youth Fellowship events, as Demolay Dad with the Keene Chapter, Order of the Demolay, assistant Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 298, and he always attended his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s band concerts, parades, sporting events, theater, dance recitals, and other gigs, to the very end. For many years, he faithfully brought his family to visit his wife’s relatives in Georgia. He was loved by neighbors and all who knew him, and he would help other people at every opportunity.

He is survived by his daughter, Molly W. Provencher and her husband, Daniel, of Chesterfield, NH; his son, Richard E. Rudolf, Jr. and his wife Susan of Bow; five grandchildren, Richard Scott Provencher, Timothy A. Provencher, James H. Rudolf, Richard Z. Rudolf, Rebecca E. Rudolf; four great-granddaughters, Katherine M. Provencher, Emily A. Provencher, Grace N. Provencher, Meredith A. Provencher; and many nieces and nephews. His wife, Billie Rudolf, died June 24, 2009. Three brothers, Henry Rudolf, William Rudolf, Charles Rudolph, and four sisters, Mary Lewis, Anna Gonzalas, Emily Beckwith, and Louise Forsyth, all died earlier.

A funeral service will be held Thursday morning, August 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street Keene, NH. Rev. Dr. D.S. Dharmapalan, retired pastor of the Grace Untied Methodist Church of Keene, will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Foley Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Rudolf’s memory to Easter Seals New Hampshire, Caring Companions Program, 555 Auburn Street, Manchester, NH 03101 (nheasterseals.com) or to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Program, 30 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH 03301 (www.crvna.org).