Charles Hudson

Charles (Bud) Hudson passed peacefully on August 5, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on August 20, 1929 in Denton, TX. He spent most of his childhood roaming the outskirts of town learning to love and appreciate nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. Growing up during the Great Depression, his childhood was filled with struggles and obstacles which shaped his love for family and hard work.

He was drafted into the army and served during the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan and Korea during his time on active duty. After the war, he used the GI bill to attend North Texas State University. During this time, he met the love of his life, his soul mate, Maria Teresa (Terry) Benavides. Terry was attending Texas Women’s University, also in Denton. Married 65 years, Bud and Terry were tied at the hips and created a life together based on nurturing and loving their children and grandchildren.

They began their life together in Denton, before moving to Houston for better job opportunities. They eventually ended up in Laredo, TX, where Terry was born and raised, to be closer to her parents. Bud and Terry were both active members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. They spent the next 25 years raising their children and building their life. Bud spent time selling houses and owning/running a gas station before settling in as a high school vocational building trades teacher. He was hired at the newly incorporated United ISD as part of the growing area of Del Mar, in Laredo. He had fond memories working alongside his wife. One of his most cherished memories was being asked by the superintendent to help start the athletic program at United High School. Bud recruited a handful of students and began with a boys basketball team. After leaving United, he spent a few years at Nixon High School, he spent the final years of his career building a highly respected tenure at Martin High School. He and his fellow teachers helped transform the vocational programs and prepared them for the technological age. But Bud was an old-school wood worker. He continued his trade well into retirement helping build and repair numerous projects for family and friends. GrandPa was always known as the guy to bring what stopped working because he “could fix anything”. Bud also gave back to his community by volunteering his time to the Del Mar Little League as well as the Border Olympic Track & Field Meet for many years.

Together, Bud and Terry loved to travel and spend time at Terry’s family ranch. Bud taught his children and grandchildren to love nature and how to be a steward of the outdoors and wildlife. He loved and was a successful deer hunter, having learned to hunt in childhood. His favorite times at the ranch were spent with his wife and family. Bud and Terry also raised cattle for a period. Bud and Terry also built a vacation home in Port Aransas, TX when it was still “a sleepy little fishing village”. They enjoyed spending time there hosting family and friends. After retirement, they sold their house in Laredo and built their first retirement home at Canyon Lake, TX. They were active members of St. Thomas Catholic Church. All their children settled in and around the San Antonio area. Once the travel time to visit them became a burden, they built their dream home in Garden Ridge, TX. This home provided Bud with some of his most cherished memories watching his grandchildren grow up. Throughout their lives together, Bud and Terry travelled to most areas of North America in their motorhome. They visited all 49 US states “they could drive to” as well as 10 Canadian provinces. During their days RVing, they met lifelong friends and travel companions along the way. They loved to travel with the children and grandchildren taking all on numerous snow ski trips as well as trips to Walt Disney World.

Family was his life. Bud is survived by his beautiful bride Terry, their four children; Deborah Lee (Gavin +) Hudson-Rose, William Henry (Velma Pruneda), James Earl, and Peter Kevin (Letti Uribe). He is also survived by his six grandchildren; Steven and Amie Rose, Victoria (Robert) Marquez and Jessica Hudson, and Kevin and Georgia Hudson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Allen Hudson, Sr. and Mamie Ida (Cunningham) Hudson. He was also preceded in death by his brothers and sister; Robert Allen, Jr., John Aden, James Billy, George Earl, and Dorothy Marie.

Bud suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for a significant portion of his later life. He fought hard to limit its control on his active lifestyle. Bud also suffered a serious bacterial infection in his eighties. After stints in the hospital as well as a rehab center, a relapse caused him to return home under hospice care. He faced death and beat it back. He was discharged from hospice care and began to enjoy a semi-healthy final years of life. He was able to see all his grandchildren graduate high school, many graduate college and/or start careers and he was able attend his eldest granddaughters’ wedding just prior to the pandemic shutdown.

The family would like to thank the following for their excellent care and attention they provided to Mr. Hudson. First and foremost Dr. Kevin Comfort for his many years as Charles’ family physician. Dr. Comfort has been and continues to be a cherished caregiver and friend to the entire Hudson family and we thank him and his staff. Dr. David Wenzel for his excellent care with Charles’ battle with Parkinsons’. The family would also like to thank Christus Hospice San Antonio and Central Texas for the love and care during Charles’ times of need. And a special thanks to Chaney Klemptner for her special care at the right time.

The family will be holding a private rosary.