Clifford Frank Rudesill

Clifford Frank Rudesill, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, January 26, 2015 at the Chateau Girardeau. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 25, 1924 to Walter Jackson Rudesill and Grace Sophia Blum Rudesill. He and the former Mary Kathryn �Ki� Litzelfelner were married January 20, 1946 at the Centenary Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau where they continued active membership through their adult lives. They celebrated 68 years together before her death August 5, 2014. Cliff graduated from high school in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1942. He obtained his pilot�s license, joined the Army Air Forces Air Transport Command, and became a flight instructor at the Harris Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Active duty during World War II took him to Burma where he flew 87 night missions carrying fuel and supplies over the Himalayan Mountains (called The Hump) into China. He was, thereafter, a proud and active member of the Hump Pilots Association, never missing a reunion until so few of them survived, the group decided to disband. After the war, Cliff went into sales and sales management working for hardware companies in several Midwest cities. In 1968, he returned to Cape Girardeau when he bought an interest in Riverside Building Supply and Home Centers and served as the company president until his retirement in 1984. During that time, he was also for many years a member of the Board of Directors of Hardware Wholesalers, Inc. for which he also served as chairman. Cliff was an active member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce for many years, serving on its Board of Directors and as board chairman. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Company, the Cape County Industrial Development Authority, and the SEMO Port Authority and had been enthusiastically involved in many other civic activities as well. Survivors include a son, Mark C. (Charryl) Rudesill of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Mary Gail (Brian) Rohr of Naperville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Caira Rudesill, Daniel (Janet) Rohr, Andrew (Sheela) Rohr, and Mary Margaret (Mark) Rubin; and five great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all including his extended family, The Culp�s, Leblanc�s, Mooney�s, Phillips�, and Litzelfelner�s. In addition to his wife, Ki, he was preceded in death by his only brother, Walter F. Rudesill, who was killed in a military accident in 1942. Also preceding him in death were his parents, one grandson, and one great grandson. Visitation will be at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mount Auburn Road on Thursday, January 29, 2015 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM. Funeral service will be held at Centenary Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau on Friday at 10:00AM with Rev. David Conley officiating.. Entombment will be at the Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum with full military honors by the Missouri Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com

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Clifford Frank Rudesill

January 26, 2015