Charles Russell Dudley

Class of 1940

1940 Graduation Edition
Perry Daily JournalCharles Dudley
Charles Dudley

- 19 years old, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Dudley, 731 Delaware street. He was born in Coffeyville, Kans., June 11, 1920. Before attending the Perry schools he attended school in Cushing, Seminole, Bowlegs, Orlando, Shirley, Ind., and Newton. Kans.

Charles played guard on the high school football team the past year and was chosen as second team guard on the Northern Conference football team. He played guard on the basketball team last year, went out for wrestling this year and has been a member of the track team for the past three years.

He is a member of the Lettermen’s club of the high school. In his sophomore year, he was Sargent at Arms of his class.

His hobbies are photography, athletics, dancing and writing poems.

Next year he plans to attend school at the Northwestern State Teachers college, taking a general education course in order to teach.

Charles Russell Dudley

June 11, 1920 – June 12, 1997

Charles R. Dudley, age 77, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Thursday, June 12, 1997, at Columbia Fort Walton Beach Medical Center after an extended illness. Mr. Dudley was born in Coffeyville, Kan., on June 11, 1920, to Floyd Raymond and Fannie Shoaff Dudley, and had been a resident of northwest Florida since 1952.

Mr. Dudley had a very distinguished career serving in the federal government for 43 years in times of peace and war. His military career began with the Army Air Corps serving in the Pacific Theater of World War II and continued through the Korean War. Some of his military accomplishments include combat action at Iwo Jima during WWII, promotions through every rank from private to major, and command of the Eglin Photo Lab. His federal service continued after military retirement as he filled several civil service managerial and technical positions at Eglin AFB.

Mr. Dudley, a very devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was active in several of the area’s Christian communities including the First Christian Church of Fort Walton, base chapels at Eglin and Hurlburt, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dudley was an avid golfer and former member of the Eglin Golf Club.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Ila M. Dudley, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; sons and daughters-in-laws, Col. Lynton C. (USAF ret.) and Betty Dudley, of Dayton, Ohio; Mr. Ronald M. and Barbara Dudley of San Diego, Calif.; Col. William H. (USAF ret.) and Carolyn Dudley of Tampa, Fla.; daughter Elaine M. Dudley of Washington, D.C.; brother and sister-in-law, MSgt. Bill (USAF ret.) and Francis Dudley of Eufaula, Okla.; sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Col. Bob Berger (USA ret.), of Sacramento, Calif.; sisters, Gladys Blecha and Nellie Hipsher, both of Stillwater, Okla., Shirley Burroughs of Kingsville, Texas; sister-in-law Jessie Mae Dudley of Wichita, Kan.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

The funeral service will be conducted from the First Christian Church of Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 1997, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow the services at Fort Walton Beach’s Beal Memorial Cemetery with military honors. The Rev. Charles Minyard will officiate at the funeral and the graveside committal. Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home, or for those who desire, the family prefers contributions to be made in memory of Charles Dudley to: Patient Services Fund, C/O Nancy Grigsby, Dialysis Services of Florida, 348 Miracle Strip Parkway, Suite 16, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., 32547.