Mr. Richard A. Ruddell

Richard A. "Dick" Ruddell 75, of Carmel, lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on October 30, 2010. He was born June 27, 1935 in Indianapolis to James H. and Marie (Bruhn) Ruddell. In October 1959 he married Priscilla Adams Brown.

He was a graduate of Orchard School, Shortridge High School, and Indiana University where he earned a BS with distinction in business. While at IU, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and elected to Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. He served as a 1st Lt. in the Army Artillery.

Dick worked in the family business Central Rubber & Supply from 1957 - 1971. He helped start and had been President of the Northeast Tennis Club and the Carmel Ice Skadium. He also had been vice president of Meese Inc. in Madison, Indiana which manufactured commercial laundry baskets. Dick and Priscilla also ran a land development company in Grand Cayman, BWI from 1979 - 1997.

Dick had been a member of the Jaycees, Athletic Club, Meridian Hills Country Club, Indianapolis Rotary Club, Contemporary Club, Lamb's Club, Society of Indiana Pioneers, Scientech and the Shortridge Breakfast Club. He served on the Board of Corporaters of Crown Hill Cemetery. Mr. Ruddell was a past president of the Board of Trustees of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis where he was recently awarded Honorary Trustee status. He had served as president of The Players Club and The Dramatic Club and video taped their performances for over 25 years. He also served on the Civic Theatre's Board of Director's.

Dick enjoyed traveling the world and did many trips, making it to 115 countries. He was a fifty year summer resident at Lake Wawasee. He loved their summer home being with the family, sailing, skiing, boating and his many projects. He served on both the Wawasee Property Owners Association and the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation boards where he was recognized last summer by both organizations with the WACF Cattail award for his "Outstanding Environmental Service" and the WPOA 2010 Chief Award for his "unending generosity and dedication to making sure that Lake Wawasee continues to be the Premier Lake in all of Indiana". He helped organize and was a past Commmodore of the Wawasee Boating Association.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years Priscilla; sons James H. (Sarah), William A. (Elizabeth), R. Andrew and grandchildren Christopher, Jonathan, Nicholas, Michael, Amanda, Katharine, Hudson, Grace and Adriane, stepbrothers John and Jim Bruhn. His sister Virginia (William) Herman and a son Thomas Vinton preceded him in death.

The family would like to thank Dr. Niraj Gupta of Hematology Oncology Associates and his staff for helping Dick have a fabulous summer, finishing his bucket list by sky diving with two of his grandsons and doing a Rhine River cruise in October.

Friends may call 4 to 7 p. m. on Saturday, November 6th at a celebration of Dick's life at the Crown Hill Funeral Home Chapel. There will be private grave side services. Memorial contributions may be made to The Children's Museum or Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (www.wacf.com)