Richard "Dick" Dudley

Richard C. "Dick" Dudley

Richard C. "Dick" Dudley, 74, of Baldwin Lane, died Friday, September 3, 2010, at his residence, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born February 28, 1936, in Staunton, to Albert Walker and Anne Hiner Dudley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Walker Dudley Jr.

He was an active member of West Waynesboro Church of Christ and served as a Deacon. He especially enjoyed visiting and serving communion to home-bound members and nursing home residents.

Dick retired from Dominion Virginia Power after 40 years of service. He began work in 1954 in the Staunton and Fishersville engineering offices, transferring to Fairlea, West Virginia, in 1962 as Service Representative. In 1966, he was named Senior Service Representative and transferred to Clifton Forge. Dick was named Acting Manager of the Covington office in 1972. He returned to Clifton Forge in 1976 and was promoted to Customer Service Supervisor, in 1982 he was appointed Supervisor Construction Operations. In 1983, he was transferred and promoted to Director Customer Service Supervisors in the Charlottesville District Office. He was named Director Engineering Western Division in 1988 and retired as Director of Safety and Work Methods covering the Western Division in 1994.

While in Covington, Dick was a member of the Covington Kiwanis Club and served as Club President in 1976. He served on the Board of Directors of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, was a member of and served as president of the Retail Merchants Association, and served on the board of the Salvation Army. In Charlottesville he was a member of the Charlottesville Kiwanis Club and served as Club Secretary.

Dick was active in YMCA Basketball for many years in the Staunton area and also played numerous years of fast pitch softball in the Staunton League. Surviving members of the Staunton Spartans basketball team recently reunited and met for lunch frequently. These teammates were devoted visitors as his health declined in the past year. Dick was an avid hunter, a passion he shared with Deloris, his frequent hunting partner. They enjoyed many wonderful outdoor experiences with nature and wildlife in Deerfield. Dick was a charter member of the Running Spring Hunt Club. Dick enjoyed all sports and rarely missed a James Madison University women's basketball game in the late 80's.

Dick had a special love and knowledge of history, especially the Normandy invasion and was privileged to visit the battle sites and cemeteries with his son-in-law in 2009. He also had great joy in the out-of-doors, the mountains, streams, and the wonders of God's creation. Dick touched the lives of many which was evidenced in the outpouring of love and contacts he received during the latter months of his life. His granddaughters were a source of great joy.

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Deloris Vest Dudley; his daughters, Kathryn Haven Lindsey and her husband, Bob, of Scarborough, Maine, and Missy Dudley-Heft and her husband, Brian, of Huddleston, Virginia; granddaughters, Madison Rebecca Heft and Breanne Bailey Heft of Huddleston; his sister, Elizabeth Landes and her husband, Robert, of Staunton; nephews, Jeff Dudley and his wife, Amy, of Ft. Myers, Florida, Bobby Landes and his wife, Sally, of Staunton, and Steve Landes and his wife, Angela, of Weyers Cave; nieces, Carolyn Bing and her husband, Herb, of Harrisonburg, and Becky Landes of Houston, Texas. Also surviving is his mother-in-law, Rebecca Vest of Waynesboro.

Special thanks to Betty Landes for the extra attention she offered her dear brother, to Dr. David Herring for his heartfelt care during the last weeks of Dick's life and to Dr. Herb Bing for his passion and love for Dick. More thanks to Dr. Chris Hicks for his concerns and advice and a giant Wahoo thanks to the August tailgate crew.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, September 6, 2010, at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Home in Waynesboro.

Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2010, at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Home with interment to follow at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton. Services will be conducted by Phil Forehand, retired minister of West Waynesboro Church of Christ.

Active pallbearers will be Denny Snyder, Brian Heft, Dennis Huffer, L. G. Ferrier, John Whitworth, Tony Kincaid, Bill Ferrier, and Richard Duncan. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wednesday morning Breakfast Club of Staunton's Westside Grill, Emmett Toms, Richard Homes, Charles Scott, and the West Waynesboro Church of Christ Board of Deacons.

In lieu of flowers, Dick asks that you pray for peace and cohesion in our great land, and that you visit the Blood Bank when it comes to your area.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980.

This obituary may be viewed on line at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.