Richard O. Drudge
Richard Drudge Obituary
Richard “Dick” Drudge, age 93, died on June 25, 2014 at Peabody Retirement Home in North Manchester, Indiana. He was born on November 20, 1920 in Fulton County to Clarence and Chloe (Jones) Drudge. He graduated in 1939 from Akron High School and lived most of his life in the Akron area.
He served in the US Army 1944-1946 in Europe during WW II in the 393rd Engineer Construction Battalion. He earned the following decorations: Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon.
On returning home after his service, he worked 20 years under Walt Harris for Standard Oil and then became an agent. He also worked several years for Whit Gast on his farm.
Richard married Mary Jane Lantz on July 27, 1941 in Akron. They were married 35 years and raised two sons and a daughter. She died in 1976. Richard remarried on August 18, 1979 to Mary Louise Lukens in Warsaw. They were married almost 30 until her death in 2009.
He was a member of the Akron United Methodist Church and the American Legion in Rochester. He served on the Akron Town Council for one, four-year term. Richard was on the Akron Exchange State Bank bowling team for 15 years and enjoyed playing cards with his friends in a Euchre Club. Along with the late Gil Jenkins, he helped rebuild the Akron Little League diamond and added dugouts and a nice infield where he also was a coach. He was a handyman with tools and enjoyed making furniture and wood items. His favorite hobby was horseshoe pitching and watching his favorite baseball team, the Cubs on TV.
Surviving Richard is (1) daughter: Diane (friend Jack Captain) Stephens of Arkansas, (2) sons: Dennis (spouse Cheryl) Drudge of Rochester, and Charles (spouse Darlene) Drudge of Akron, (2) stepdaughters: Patricia (spouse Richard) Goshert of Warsaw, Bud Zolman of Mishawaka and Peggy (spouse Bill) Gilger of Woodstock, Illinois, 32 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Preceding Richard in death are his parents, six sisters, three brothers, a granddaughter, Amanda Drudge in 1997 and a stepdaughter, Diane Zolman in 2012.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 29, 2014 2-6:00 p.m. at the Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 East Rochester Street, Akron, Indiana.
Funeral Services will be Monday, June 30, 2014 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. David Eaton officiating. Burial will be in the Akron Cemetery with graveside services military rites by the US Army and the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Akron United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6, Akron, Indiana 46910.
Online condolences may be sent to eallovefuneralhome. com
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