Mr. John E. (Johnny) Rudder, age 90, of Stevenson, Alabama, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, following a brief illness.
John E. was a Stevenson High School graduate, with the class of 1951, he then attended Auburn University before serving in the Army, reaching the rank of Corporal. He was stationed at Fort Sill where he was Company Clerk, that ran field problems for the OCS school. After his time in the Army, he went to mortuary school in Nashville, TN, at John A. Gupton. While working at Marshall, Donnely, and Combs Funeral Home, he met and married his future wife Doris Jean Cook. After that he left funeral service for a short time, working for TVA at the New Johnsonville Steam Plant near Dixson, TN. before moving back to Stevenson and working with his dad at the funeral home until his death in 1967. Beginning in 1980 through 2018, Johnny served as an active board member, for First National Bank of Stevenson, later becoming First Southern State Bank, then beginning in 2019, he served as Director Emeritus, for a total service for the bank and the community, 43 years. He also was the Mayor of Stevenson, from 1960 to 1964, and when he was elected, he was the youngest person to serve as Mayor of Stevenson. Johnny was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Stevenson.
John E. Rudder is survived by; son: John Cook (Lisa) Rudder; daughter: Mary (Wally) Rowe; four grandsons: Josh (Millie) Rudder, Lucas (Cinthya) Rudder, Zack (Rikki) Rowe and Seth Rowe; seven great grandchildren: Tony, Jack, Linda, Mary Chase, Madi Grace, George and Hudson. Mr. Rudder was preceded in death by his wife: Doris Jean Rudder, parents A.G. “Dinky” and Maryanna Rudder, and his sister, Anna Amanda Rudder. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at 112 College Street, Stevenson, AL 35772, in honor of Johnny.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 from 11 AM until 1 PM at the Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson, with services to follow in the chapel.
Memories and online condolences may be left for the family at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com
