MANSFIELD: Ronald ‘Ron’ Hout Dudley, 88, peacefully passed away at home on Thursday April 11, with his daughter, Lynda, by his side.
Ron was born Oct. 17, 1935 in Mansfield, OH and lived in the area all of his life. He was the son of the late Gerald and Wilma (Hout) Dudley.
He married the love of his life and high school, sweetheart Ellen ‘Jo’ Fankhauser on Dec. 27, 1958. Prior to her passing, they celebrated 45 years of marriage.
Ron was a graduate of the Madison High School class of 1953 and shortly thereafter began his career in the construction industry. He was drafted in 1958 and proudly served in the US Army, 30th Infantry 3rd Division Company D 1st Battle Group and was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. Once his wife joined him in Germany, they and another couple traveled Europe, seeing many wonderful sites and countries. The stories Ron told about their adventures in Germany were endless. Upon returning, Ron started his own homebuilding company, Ron Dudley Builders. He built custom homes throughout Mansfield, OH with the majority of the homes in the Mifflin and Madison Townships. He was a member of the Lions Club, Ohio Homebuilders Association, National Homebuilders Association and the National Rifleman’s Association. When Ron retired from the homebuilding industry, he joined his wife in the western wear business owning and operating the Tumbleweed Western Shop and later opening The Western Shop and Route 30 Biker Leathers. The stores were in business for 42 years. Always a cowboy at heart, Ron would say “(he) was born 100 years too late!”
Never one to sit still, after closing the store, he enjoyed his retirement to the fullest extent. Ron loved being outdoors. If the weather was warm you could often find him enjoying the sun, mowing, planting trees, or just watching wildlife on the family farm.
In addition to his parents, Ron is preceded in death by his wife Jo, and a grandson, Joeb Fenton Dudley-Hooper.
He is survived by his daughter, Lynda Jo Dudley Tackett of Venice, FL; three grandchildren, Ashley Nicole (Christian Montelongo) Dudley-Tackett, Morgan Rachelle (Jeffrey Hooper) Dudley-Tackett, both of Colorado Springs, CO and Matthew James Dudley (Abby) Tackett of Fort Collins, CO. Five great grandchildren; Izabella Jolyn, Noa De Asis, Alejandro Xavier, Sofia Marie, and Ellen Nori. His brother Richard ‘Dick’ (Bobette) Dudley of Shenandoah, OH and many nieces and nephews.
The family will host a celebration of life at a later date.
The Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com