Professor Dean A. Dudley

CHARLESTON, IL – Dean A.Dudley, age 77 of Charleston and retired E.I.U. Professor, died in thecomforting presence of his wife on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at his DouglasRehabilitation and Care Center home in Mattoon. Visitation for family and friends will be held Monday, December 17, 2012from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Mondaywith Reverend Dr. Thomas Hawkins and Reverend Jan Hawkins officiating.  Interment with Military Honors conducted bythe Charleston VFW will follow in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston.   It is requested that memorial gifts in hishonor be made to the EIU Foundation – Professor Dean Dudley Faculty Fund or tothe Lutheran Community Foundation – the Dean and Marilyn Dudley Fund.  Gifts may be left on the memorial table atthe visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. 

Dean Arthur Dudley was bornon August 30, 1935 in Port Arthur, Texas and was a son of the late Louis P. andMildred M. (Clark) Dudley.  He married MarilynL. (Walberg) Wilkins on November 18, 1988 in Charleston.  He is survived by his loving wife Marilyn ofCharleston; a stepson, John Wilkins and wife Jenny of Taipei, Taiwan; twograndchildren, Ella and Owen Wilkins of Taipei; and nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents he was preceded indeath by a brother, George Dudley and a sister, Grace Kundrat. 

Dean was inducted into theU.S. Army in November of 1953 and faithfully served his country during theKorean War.  He received his Bachelorsdegree in 1957 and his Master in 1959 – both from Kent State University.  Prior to attaining his Ph.D. from theUniversity of Washington in 1965 he was employed in the banking industry.  Professor Dudley taught finance at OhioUniversity, Appalachian State University, California State University-Chico,University of New Orleans where he was Dean of the Graduate School andCalifornia State University-Fresno.  Hewas a Professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at Eastern IllinoisUniversity for twelve years prior to retiring in May of 1997.  Professor Dudley was a member of the NorthAmerican Economic and Finance Association, President of the Midwest FinanceAssociation as well as the Society of Case Research.  He served on the Board of Editors for theReview of Financial Economics, the ROTC Advisory Board, Council of GraduateStudies and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society), the EIUAnnuitants Association, was coordinator of Graduate Business Studies from1987-1990, and served on various other EIU committees.  He was the recipient of many honors includingthe Distinguished Business Professor Award in 1992. 

Dean was a collector ofwatches and Parker Pens.  He was also aparticipant and member of the Single Action Shooters Society which is aninternational organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of thesport of Cowboy Action Shooting.  He wasa worldwide traveler and his passion for traveling led him and Marilyn to suchdestinations as Russia, Canada, England, Scotland and Ireland.  Dean had a special place in his heart forDoberman Pinscher dogs, especially those that were abused or abandoned, andoffered them a home. 

Dean was a loving husband andhe and Marilyn shared a special bond.  He was an excellent professor and one who was well respected by hisstudents and his colleagues.   He had awonderful sense of humor and Professor Dean Dudley would want all to know thatfor him "class is now dismissed".