Jean Marie Rude

Jean Marie (Ledbetter) Rude, 94, a resident of Anne Arundel County and Severna Park since 1958, died October 20 at home. Jean was born in Parsons, Kansas in 1927, to William E. Ledbetter and Marie K. (Fecho) Ledbetter. Both the Ledbetter and Fecho families were very talented in music, singing and scenic paintings. As a child, Jean took piano and violin lessons and played the violin in the junior and senior high school orchestras. After graduating from Parsons High School in 1945, and 2 years of junior college, she went to live with her aunt in Ohio to attend Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for the beginning of her junior year, focusing in music and voice lessons. In 1947, Jean returned to Parsons and married William (Bill) A. Rude. She finished college at Oklahoma A & M, Stillwater. She graduated in 1949 with a B.A. in Home Economics and Household Arts. The couple moved to Missouri, where Bill began his career with Westinghouse, and Jean became a fulltime wife and mother. Westinghouse transferred the family to Sunnyvale, CA in 1957, and then to Friendship (BWI) in 1958, and the family finally settled at their Severna Park home in 1960. After her husband's retirement in 1988, the couple enjoyed many years of travel in their motor home visiting family and friends and doing genealogy. After 65 years of marriage, Bill died in 2012. While attending college, Jean sang with the Symphonic Choir at Oklahoma A & M, and while living in MO, she sang with the Kansas City Philharmonic Chorus. She sang for many years with the Annapolis Chorale. Jean served many years on the board of the Anne Arundel Community Concert Association holding both positions of treasurer and secretary, and served on the board of the local YWCA. She was a past president of the Severna Park Republican Women's Club, and a past president of the Ben Oaks Garden Club, where her books of evidence won 1st place awards for Roadside Beautification, Bicentennial Award and Historical Preservation of a possible Revolutionary War gun site at the head of the Severn River in Ben Oaks. Jean was a lifetime member of the Christian Church/Church of Christ. She enjoyed singing in the choirs, leading the choirs, and singing solos, especially at Easter time or for special church events. Jean is survived by her six children: Kathryn (Gary) Parker, Columbia, MO, Renee Saunders, Yukon, OK, Laramie (Bob) Daniel, Glen Burnie, Janette (Steve) Levie, Elizabeth City, NC, William (Angela), Preston, and Jonathan (Joanna), Leander, TX; ten grandchildren: Drury Megan (Greg) Moyers, Joseph Parker, Justa (Danny) Mayorga, Jeffrey Saunders, Kara (Josh) Haman, Charles and William Daniel, and Matthew, Joshua and Caleb Rude; and eight great-grandchildren: Honora Mayorga, Ella, Amelia and Allena Tryon, Everett Rude Haman, Ann Marie Moyers, Cassidy and Jayven Saunders; her brother, William G. Ledbetter and sister, Patricia Shepard; and several nieces and nephews. Cremation arrangements were handled by Maryland Cremation Services. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., December 4, Severn Christian Church, 8132 New Cut Road, Severn, MD. An inurnment service will be held later at the Ledbetter plot, next to William A. Rude, Oakwood Cemetery, Parsons, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated through the church or directly to HOPE For All, P.O. Box 1548, Glen Burnie, MD 21060, website: hopeforall.us