Sherman "Jay" J. Ludden

Born on October 26, 1952, in Evansville to Sherman Thomas Ludden and Mary Lou (Sellers) Ludden, Jay was a lifelong resident of his hometown. An accomplished Eagle Scout in his youth, he graduated from F.J. Reitz High School and briefly attended ITT Technical Institute for one semester. Hoping to obtain IT training while serving his country as his father had done, he proudly enlisted in the United States Navy on January 4, 1972, serving until his honorable discharge on December 12, 1975. Stationed out of San Diego, California, Jay became a sonar operator on a destroyer during the Vietnam era. He loved bragging about learning to write backwards so officers on the other side of the glass could read his reports, and when later applying for jobs in landlocked Indiana, he’d humorously describe his experience as “seeking out and destroying enemy submarines”. His service came during what turned into a difficult time for his family.

Following his discharge, Jay returned home after his father became ill- a homecoming his younger brother, Thomas, still remembers vividly. The Christmas lights were still up when a bearded, wild-looking man arrived; Thomas, in eighth grade, didn’t even recognize him until Charlotte yelled, “Jay!”. After his father’s passing from cancer in 1977, Jay stepped up to become the man of the house, caring for his mother and dedicating much of his life to supporting his family. He worked diligently to provide for her throughout her remaining years and resided in the family home with his oldest sister, Charlotte, where she continues to live to this day. Never marrying or having children of his own, he poured his love into his large extended family, his beloved American Pit Bull Terriers, and creating lasting memories with those around him.

Jay had a passion for music and adventure. He loved piling family- cousins, brothers, and nephews- into his two-door Nova for trips to record stores, where he’d spend hours browsing vinyl, once coming home with $135 worth of albums (a fortune back in the ’70s). The first record he played that day was America’s debut album, revealing a deeper, more complex side that surprised and touched his siblings. Jay also took big groups to concerts- not for the headliners, but for the joy of sharing good music and good times together.

He adored his dogs more than anything, always choosing loyal Pit Bulls, and he’d chuckle at how the girls in the neighborhood fawned over them during walks. Jay also loved babies (until they started talking back), he could make them laugh so hard it turned into a non-stop belly laugh! Jay created special “adventures” for his young nephews, like late-night treks with Rob and Jacob, walking through the Hardee’s drive-thru window (when the lobby was closed) just to get treats. Jay also loved maintaining a garden in his backyard: mainly growing tomatoes, peppers, and green beans. He tried some root vegetables, like carrots, but the ground was too hard and they were always misshapen. His quiet strength, generosity, and sense of fun left a positive impact on more lives than he ever imagined.

Jay is survived by his older sister, Charlotte Loegering, and her sons: Bryan (Christina) Jennings, Michael Loegering (Amber), and Robert (Tori) Loegering; sister, Gail (Ron) Bucher, and their daughters: Lindsey Bucher (Bradley Hines) and Christie; Christine (Scott) Reid and her children: daughter Melanie Lynch, son Eric Lynch, son Matthew (Shelli) Lynch, and daughter Sarah (Jason) Wilson; brother, Thomas (Julie) Ludden and their children: son Mitchell and daughter Caroline; and brother, Timothy (Maryann) Ludden and his children: son Jacob (Cayce), daughter Proper (Tyler) Ashworth, and son Elijah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sherman Thomas Ludden and Mary Lou (Sellers) Ludden.

A funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Alexander West Chapel, 2100 W. Illinois Street, Evansville, IN. Friends and family may visit from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the funeral home. Jay's interment will follow in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery.

Jay will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for his devotion to family, his love of music and dogs, and the countless ways he brought joy to those around him.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vanderburgh Humane Society (https://give.vhslifesaver.org).

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.