Daddy went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 30, 2013. He was born to Ernest and Clara Luedecke on August 25, 1935 in Erick, Oklahoma. He married Barbara Patterson in 1954. After being on a waiting list for 9 years, they were blessed and able to adopt their daughter Wende and their son Pat. Daddy was a hot medal pressman in Pampa until he was drafted into the United States Armed Forces. He was a true patriot; when he heard the National Anthem, he stood when he could and tears swelled in his eyes. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict, but was especially proud of Pat when he received the non-enterprise level all Army Lien 6 sigma continuous process improvement award at the Pentagon.
He and Barbara moved to Midland 43 years ago when he got a job at the Reporter Telegram as a printer. Computer evolution prompted him to work at Qualified Printers until he retired in 1998. Daddy was an avid yard man and cared for his lawn weekly. His St. Augustine grass and trees are the envy of all the neighbors. He dearly loved Chloe and Jack, rescue dogs he would not allow to be adopted.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and Barbara. His survivors are Wende, Pat and his wife Melinda, granddaughter Brittney and her husband David, and granddaughter Kimber. Also survived James is his sister Wanda, and brothers Ronnie and his wife Charlotte, and Doug and his great-grandchildren Luis, Iliana, Jacob, and one on the way as well as other extended family.
Wende would like to thank her many friends who have given encouragement, comfort, and prayer during this difficult time; the girls at Shear Class, Kady, Angie, Maria, and Ronnie. Her dear friends Sharon, Shana, Terrie, Judy, Sharon, and Carey, Mary, Annabeth, Ada, Flo, Becky, Rick and Elaine, Ann and Tom, Pam an d Jim, Karen and James, Shannon, and Rosemarie. And her newest best friends at Taco Villa; Joel, David, Linda, Kimberly, Mar, Steph, Rosalinda, Candace, Addy, Cheyenne, Kira, Shelbie, Jesus, Renya, Rosa, Lorenza, Chris, Jesus, Rosa, Florencia, Vilma, Selena, Rosie, Chuy, Monica, Daniel, Courtney, Chelsea, and Israel. We would also like to thank Home Hospice for their love, concern, and care.
Visitation will be at Ellis Funeral Home on Friday, May 3 from 5:00-7:00pm. Funeral will be Saturday, May 4 at 11:00am at Ellis Chapel. Scott Sheppard will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lone Star Sanctuary for Animals at 4200 N. Fairgrounds Road 79705 or Home Hospice, 901 West Missouri 79701.
We want to express our gratitude to our cousin David and his wife Shannon Patterson for arranging the Patriot Guard to honor Daddy.
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