Dr. Donald B. Rudy

Obituary

Donald Byron Rudy was born on December 23, 1930, in Bluffton, Indiana. He was the son of Earl and Gretchen (Hubner) Rudy. Donald grew up on a farm outside of Bluffton. He received his education at Poplar Grove Elementary School in Poplar Grove, Indiana, and P.A. Allen High School in Bluffton and graduated with the P.A. Allen High School class of 1948. Donald continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, studying pre-med. He was in the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity there. He then attended medical school at Indiana University (IU). Donald graduated from there in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science and an MD degree. In 1955, Donald was awarded the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Award, which is a prestigious national honor in the United States that is dedicated to recognizing and promoting excellence in the medical profession.

Donald Rudy met Ruth Mahatta Cox at Marion County General Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, when he was a medical student there. On June 26, 1955, Dr. Donald B. Rudy was united in marriage to Ruth M. Cox at First Friends Church in Winchester, Indiana. The couple made their home in Bluffton, IN, while Dr. Rudy did a two-year surgical program there at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center. The couple was blessed and adopted two children, Mark and Mary.

Donald B. Rudy, MD, joined the United States Air Force on October 6, 1956, in Bluffton, Indiana. He achieved the rank of Captain and served as a flight surgeon. As a flight surgeon, he traveled to South America and Japan. After serving two years, Donald received an honorable discharge on October 5, 1958, at the Larson Air Force Base in Grant County, near Moses Lake, Washington.

Dr. Rudy and his wife, Ruth were commissioned by the United Methodist Church at Bluffton in December 1960 and served in Rhodesia, Africa, after civil strife prevented them from their assigned station in Angola, Africa. While on the missionary assignment, Ruth worked as a hospital treasurer and accountant. In 1975, Dr. Rudy and Ruth returned to the United States and completed a two-year term in the Indian Health Service at Crow Agency in Montana. Following that, the couple moved to Glencoe, Minnesota to join a medical clinic. Dr. Rudy practiced medicine and surgery there for 17 years. During this time, Dr. Rudy also served on the board for Global Ministries. In 1994, Dr. Rudy and Ruth returned to Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, Africa, for a three-year term. The couple returned home to Glencoe after Ruth fell ill. Ruth went into remission and they returned to Zimbabwe in 1998. In 1999, they returned home to Glencoe. Ruth passed away on December 13, 1999. The couple shared 44 years together. In January of 2000, Dr. Rudy made the decision to retire from medicine. In 2004 he received the Distinguished Medical Alumni Award by Indiana University (IU).

In 2008, Dr. Rudy was introduced to Anne Tyler Hager by Dr. Rudy’s cousin. The couple was married in Boulder, CO, on December 27, 2008. The couple made their home in Glencoe. In 2020, Dr. Rudy and Anne moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to be closer to her family. They shared just over 16 years together when Anne passed away on November 2, 2024.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Dr. Donald B. Rudy peacefully passed away at Holbrook Woodstock in Woodstock, Georgia at the age of 94 years and 29 days. Blessed be his memory.

Dr. Rudy is survived by his
Children, Mark Edward Rudy of Venice, FL,
                Mary Cox Schmidt and her husband, John, of Mound, MN;
Grandchildren, Samantha Rudy and Trevor Harrison Rudy of  Bradenton, FL, Sydney Rudy of  Lake Charles, LA;
Other relatives and friends.

Dr. Rudy was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Cox Rudy; second wife, Anne Hager Rudy; Father and Mother, Earl and Gretchen Rudy; Step-Mother, Vera Rudy.