Raymond Dudley

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 10, 2009

Raymond Wilson Dudley died at Sentara Obici Hospital on April 8, 2009. He was 11 days shy of his 93rd birthday.
Mr. Dudley was born and raised in Suffolk, Va. He was predeceased by his parents, Hugh and Lucile Dudley, and one brother, Hugh Benton Dudley.
He was a graduate of Suffolk High School, class of 1935, and of the College of William and Mary, class of 1939. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the 13 Society. He was a participant in the sports programs at both places.
Mr. Dudley joined the Navy in 1940. The Navy sent him to Northwestern Graduate School and Cornell University to study diesel engineering. He attained the rank of Lt. Commander and became the Executive Officer, acting as Captain of the U.S. Destroyer Escort Haverfield. He was loved and respected by his fellow officers and crew.
He was a long-time devoted member of Suffolk Christian Church, where he served several terms on the Board of Deacons; he also served as president of the Barraca Sunday School Class, and on other committees. He was a member of the Suffolk Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks Club and the Jolly Boys.
Mr. Dudley was sales manager of Lummis Peanut Company and later a broker with the Jack Cockey Brokerage Co.
Mr. Dudley is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Jacquelyn W. Dudley, of Lake Prince Woods; three sons, Ray Dudley Jr., of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Dr. David Dudley, of Midlothian, Va., Scott Dudley, of Wilmington, N.C.; one daughter, Penny Lu Dudley, of Boise, Idaho; one granddaughter, Mackenzie Birkitt, of Richmond, Va.; two nephews, Ray Dudley, of Port Orchard, Wash.; Larry Dudley, of Prescott, Ariz.; two nieces, Carole D. Ellis, of Gardena, Calif., and Randy D. Dailey, of Ojai, Calif.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday morning, April 11, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Cypress Chapel Christian Church Cemetery, officiated by the Rev. Mary Henderson, chaplain at Lake Prince Woods, and the Rev. Michael D. Halley of Suffolk Christian Church. A reception to celebrate the memory of Raymond Dudley will be held at 1 p.m. in the Portsmouth Center of Lake Prince Woods. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lake Prince Woods Benevolent Fund, 100 Anna Goode Way, Suffolk, VA, 23434 or a favorite charity. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

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