Douglas B Dudley

On March 7th the Lord returned the salute of 88 year old Marine, Douglas Bruce Dudley. “Welcome home, Doug. Your fellow Marines have been guarding these Pearly Gates for a long time. Other than your Sentry Duties I need you to tend to my forest and shepherd the animals, especially the horses—but not the deer. I’ll leave them to others.

Oh, by the way, your analytical observations and blunt witticisms are welcome here. You often cause me to chuckle, and once in a while I forget myself and laugh out loud. I particularly enjoyed the ones about politicians.

Douglas was born in Grimes County,Texas, October 20, 1928. Growing up on his grandparents’ farm he grew to admire the beauty and wild spirit of horses, and soon became a skilled horseman; a gift that later in life he would pass on to his daughter, Pam, and his son, Russell.

Doug’s free spirit and desire to serve his country motivated him to lie about his age and volunteer for the Marine Corps following World War II. After his tour

with the Marines he returned to his beloved Texas.

An avid hunter, Doug loved being in the woods tracking game from the prairie lands and piney woods of Texas to the mountains and streams of Colorado. He also loved camping trips with his family and children. Although he had an unabashed love of America and Texas, he enjoyed traveling and learning about other countries and cultures.

In May of 2000 Doug married his best friend, Bettie Soukup. Combining Bettie’s refined yet adventurous nature with Doug’s wanderlust, the globetrotting couple, who often traveled with their good friends of New Hope Lutheran Church, created many memorable experiences from the Americas to Europe. Stateside he enjoyed dinners with friends, frequent visits to those crazy malls, and of course, piddling around with woodworking , and organizing and reorganizing his garage. His organization was beyond perfection. Not one particle of dust would dare to enter his domain.

Doug’s love of horses, hunting, and traveling was only surpassed by his love of family. He would say on occasion that a man’s legacy is not what he accomplishes, but the relationships he developments while accomplishing. One of his witticisms was: “Ever see a tombstone with a list of job promotions and bonuses? No , it’s about family and beliefs.” Family is family, warts and all.

And, boy, is this family going to miss Doug: from his best friend and wife, Bettie, to his sidekick and daughter, Pam. All of us are going to miss our Dad, our Grandpa, our uncle, our brother, our cousin, our friend. We need you for another 88 years. You still have grandchildren and great grandchildren to teach how to rope, to shoot, and to love God’s green earth. You reminded us why God blesses America and why it is important to remember the Alamo.

Doug is survived by his wife, Bettie Soukup Dudley; his daughter Pam Hernandez, her husband, Victor Hernandez; his son, Russell Dudley; his grand children Blake, Grant, and Madison Hernandez, Evan Dudley; Pam & Russell’s mom, Barbara Dudley. Bettie’s Children: Dr. Vicki Soukup, Claron Clark, and James Soukup. His step grandchildren: Timothy Salter, Scott Salter, Jacob Lamar, Lindsay Valdez; and great grandchildren Presley Salter and William James Salter; His brother, Wayne Dudley, and his wife Helga Dudley.

In lieu of flowers or flora arrangements the family requests donations to the charity of your choice or New Hope Lutheran Church or to cancer research.