Eugene Elwood "Gene" Rude

Eugene Elwood Rude, known by all as Gene, passed away Thursday morning, March 21, 2013 at Lincoln Meadows Care Facility outside of Sacramento. Gene, a longtime resident of the Lake Almanor Peninsula, had been living in the Sacramento area since January when health problems forced him to leave his home in Lake Almanor. Over the previous three decades, Gene and his beloved wife, Katie, were active members of the peninsula community and were much-loved fixtures in the town of Chester. Gene was a dedicated member of the Lion's Club, as well as a supporter, along with Katie, of Sierra Hospice. After Katie's death in the summer of 2011, Gene stayed active, continuing his daily trips into Chester where he exercised nearly every day at the Lake Almanor Fitness Center and took his meals, most often at the Kopper Kettle. He missed Katie fiercely but felt supported by his friends and the sense of community he experienced in Chester where he often told his worried children, "he had many friends." Gene was born March 25, 1926 in Richmond, California. According to his stories, as a child he frequently skipped school to pursue adventures such as exploring Mt Tamalpais and body surfing in the Pacific. He was still in high school when the U.S. entered World War II, but after he graduated at the age of 17 he convinced his father to let him enlist in the Navy. While in the Navy Gene served on a supply ship in the Philippines until the end of the war. Upon returning home, he enrolled at U.C. Berkeley where he met Catherine Ellen Scofield (Katie) in a large Anthropology lecture hall and was immediately smitten. Gene and Katie were married September 25, 1949 beginning their long journey in life together. Shortly after his marriage, Gene began his career as a salesman for Jacuzzi Pumps, a job that required being on the road often. When his first child was born he decided to go into teaching. Later in life he often mentioned what a good decision this had been, not only because of the satisfactions this career brought, but because it allowed him more time with his family. Gene's teaching career began in a two-room school house in the logging town of Hyampom, California. The family moved to Redding in 1957 and then, three years later, to Napa, California where Gene took the job of principal and Superintendant of Brown's Valley Elementary School District. As an administrator, Gene was especially intent on recognizing and supporting excellence in teaching. He was known for his lively, often self-mocking, sense of humor and for finding unconventional and creative ways to help students get along with each other and flourish in the classroom. He was a frequent presence in the halls and on the playground, where he was occasionally spotted jumping rope with the kids. In 1969 the family relocated to Pearl River, New York where Gene pursued his doctorate in Education at Columbia University. He went on to work as an administrator in Watchung Schools in New Jersey. Both Gene and Katie loved working with children and there were nightly animated conversations around the dinner table, mostly about teaching. Gene is preceded in death by his parents Irvin and Ruth Rude, sister Jane Rude Riley and his loving wife of 62 years Catherine Scofield Rude (Katie). He is survived by daughters Stephanie Rude and her husband Jerry Smith of Austin TX, Janice Rude Franks of Ukiah, CA, and son Nathan Rude and wife Mary of Sacramento CA; grandchildren Caitlin Kyllonen Miller, Nikki Hawkins, Wesley Franks, Analise Mullis, Alex Rude, and Elliott Rude; and great grandchildren Samuel and Campbell Miller, and Kaylee, Alison and Felicity Mullis. In addition, he and Katie shared a close bond with their adopted family in Chester: Alex and Mari Morales and their children, Yessery, Yordi, and Bryana. Many people were touched by and played an important part in his life. He will be greatly missed by all. The family will have a private ceremony at a later date. The family also wishes to thank the community of Chester and Lake Almanor for everything that helped to make the last years of both Gene's and Katie's lives so very special to them both. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary. Katie and Gene had a special place in their hearts for Sierra Hospice and the family would like any remembrances in Gene's memory be made to either Sierra Hospice or the Chester Lions Club c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803, Greenville, CA 95947.