Rufus William “Rudy” Caldwell, 81, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was born March 30, 1941, in Columbus, MS, the son of Albert Percy Caldwell and Mary Josephine Bland Caldwell.
Rudy grew up in Columbus, MS and graduated from S.D. Lee High School in 1959. He attended Georgia Tech University on a football scholarship, then transferred to Mississippi State University, graduating in 1964 with a degree in Civil Engineering. In May 1964, he married Lee Pryor Foster of Columbus, and together they moved to Vicksburg, MS where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1970 they moved to Arkadelphia, AR where he was assistant resident engineer on the DeGray Dam and Power Plant project.
In 1972, Rudy moved to Tupelo to go into business with his father-in-law. He was owner and president of Foster Beverage Company until the business was sold in 2001.
Rudy was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Tupelo for over 50 years and was a founding member of the Norris “Piggie” Caldwell Sunday School Class. In recent years, he also attended and loved Unity Presbyterian Church where he found a second church family. He was also a member of Tupelo Kiwanis Club for over 45 years.
Rudy shared his love of football by coaching both his sons and then continuing to coach many others in the Tupelo Park and Rec Youth Football program. An avid hunter, Rudy was a member of the Tallulah Hunting Club in Fitler, MS for over 50 years and served as a board member and past president.
In retirement, Rudy found a new passion in genealogy research. He continued his father’s work on the Caldwell family and also researched his mother’s family. He maintained three websites and helped countless people trace their ancestry. He loved attending Caldwell family reunions providing an extensive chart of the family genealogy and even writing and directing a family history play. Rudy and Lee Pryor enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad. He had a special love for Ireland, where he felt a kinship with his ancestors.
Rudy is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lee Pryor Caldwell; two sons, Rudy Caldwell, Jr. (Jala) of Tupelo and Frank Caldwell (Sarah) of North Richland Hills, TX; two grandchildren, Jackson Caldwell (fiancée Alicia Elliott) of Mobile, AL and Ansley Caldwell of Tupelo; two sisters, Shirley Seals of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Margery Grammer, of Conroe, TX. In additional to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers, Albert Caldwell, Richard Caldwell and Robert Caldwell.
A memorial service celebrating Rudy’s life will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, January 22, 2023 in the chapel of Holland Funeral Directors of Tupelo with Dr. John Armistead and Rev. Dr. Ron Richardson officiating. Graveside services will be held at 4:30 pm Sunday at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, MS. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at 2:00 pm www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jay Woods, Mendy Mendoza, Frank Ferguson, Bill Blair, Dr. Bill Kahlstorf, Dr. Dan Brasfield, Jim Weir, Mike Gratz and Billy Ford Waters.
Memorials may be made to Palmer Home for Children, 800 Baldwyn Road S., Lake Cormorant, MS 38641; the Salvation Army or to a charity of your choice.
