Ronald Frederick Hudler

HUDLER GRASSY CREEK - Ronald Frederick Hudler passed away Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at his farm in Grassy Creek. Ron was 73. Born July 20, 1934, in Detroit, Mich., to Fred and Myrtle Hudler, third-generation residents of Ashe County, Ron is survived by his brother, Donald Hudler, and wife Danielle of Charlotte; his son, Dale Hudler, wife Debi and their children, Holden, Sam and Madison of West Jefferson; his son, Bill Hudler, and wife Mona and their children, Shane and Luke Hall of Grassy Creek; his daughter Deb Holroyd, her husband, Tim, and their children Charlie, Grace, Rachel, Michael, Bridget and Kevin; and grandchildren Tate and Cole Hudler of West Jefferson. Ron is joined in death by his son, Fred Hudler of West Jefferson; both were killed in a robbery at Ron' s home. Ron graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1956. During his 40-plus year career with General Motors and Electronic Data Systems, he held multiple assignments in North America and Europe. It was after his retirement as a vice president from EDS in 1992 that he came back to the family farm where he and his brother vacationed as children, and to this area he loved, to develop a Christmas tree business with his three sons, Dale, Fred and Bill. The Hudler Carolina Tree Farms comprise one of the largest Christmas tree businesses in the country, including farms in Virginia, North Carolina and Michigan. The business provided the Christmas tree to the White House in 1995, and had for more than 10 years contributed to national Christmas festivities by providing the trees which encircle the National Christmas Tree, representing the 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia, known as the "Pageant of Peace." Ron particularly enjoyed participating personally in the delivery of hundreds of trees directly to servicemen and women and their families on military bases across the United States through the Christmas Spirit Foundation' s Trees for Troops program. Ron was an active volunteer and leader in agricultural and Christmas tree associations and an industry authority on issues such as immigration, market expansion and environmental concerns. He was an adviser to the N.C. Christmas Tree Association and a board member of the National Christmas Tree Association. Ron was also chairman of the N.C. Department of Labor' s Agricultural Safety & Health Council. Ron was known and loved by many for his gregarious spirit, kind heart and generosity and will be dearly missed. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 29, at Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the same location. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to benefit Tate and Cole Hudler with checks to AF Bank, Attn: Tate and Cole Hudler Fund, P.O. Box 26, West Jefferson, NC 28694.