Robert E. Dudley

HICKORY - Robert Edward Dudley, M.D., 67, of Hickory, died March 31, 2010. He was born in Erie, Pa., on June 5, 1942, to the late Ralph and Isabel Dudley. He graduated from McDowell High School in Erie as co-valedictorian of his class. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in pre-med from Oberlin College, and earned his medical degree from Case Western University, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha. He served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Osaka, Japan. After completing his internship at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, he served his residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He worked for nearly 40 years as a psychiatrist in Caldwell and Burke counties. He is survived by his wife, Shyra Weddington of Hickory; a daughter, Beth Dudley of Pittsburgh, Pa.; sons, Chris Dudley of Chicago, Ill., and John Dudley and wife, Ellen, of Erie, Pa.; a sister, Anne Bolash and husband, Joe, of Erie, Pa.; a brother, Dan Dudley and wife, Joy, of Pickerington, Ohio; and three grandchildren, Austin, Logan and Megan Dudley of Erie, Pa. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2010, at Catawba Funerals & Cremations. Burial will be private. Online condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com. Catawba Funerals & Cremations is providing professional services to the Dudley family.