Robert E. Dudley

Dr. Robert E. Dudley passed on January 5, 2015 in Washington State. A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Warthen. The Reverend Gary Walker will officiate.

Born in the city of Danberg, Jefferson County, Georgia on July 5th 1923 he was reared in Warthen, Washington County, Georgia. He was the son of the late Thomas Washington Dudley and the late Elizabeth Cobb Dudley. Dr. Bob, as he was known around the world, always had a wonderful smile and loved all people. He met his future wife, Edna May “Eddie” Dudley during WWII when stationed at Buckley Air-field, Denver Colorado, for training. He was married just before shipping off to the Pacific theater, where he was stationed on the island of Saipan with the 20th Air Force, which eventually had the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, responsible for the final two deliveries of products from the Manhattan project.

There are so many things that Dr. Bob should be remembered for. He was a member of the Royal Society of Health in England. After returning from the Pacific theater, he went to school on the GI Bill and became a dentist, then returning to serve troops in the European theater, stationed in Salzburg, Austria. That is where the family travels began. He arranged for the family to return to America on the USS Independence trans-Atlantic crossing, buying a 1956 Chevy Bellaire in New York City, which he drove with the family to Georgia and then cross country to Denver. At least three times he traveled to Indonesia for extended visits with his son Steve and family. Robert also eventually retired as a Colonel in the United States Army after 20 total years as an enlisted man and officer in Army Air Force, United States Armed Forces Austria and US Army Reserve.

Dr. Bob had a successful dental practice in Denver for 30 years. He also became owner of Pine Valley Ranch, which he saved in 1972 to avoid letting it be subdivided into summer homes and cottages. Pine Valley is now the jewel in the crown of the Jefferson County, Colorado Open Space Park System, offering free hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities for everyone, including the handicapped. The lodge at Pine Valley, named Baeherden is listed on the Colorado Historical Register. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 52 years, “Eddie” and children Joyce and Keith who all have surely welcomed him with open arms.

Dr. Bob is survived by his eldest son Steve, four grandchildren, Donna, Jessica, Andrew and Gretchen, his son-in-law Robert Grawet, daughter-in-law Martha Dudley, his sister Claude D. Bellew of Warthen and numerous nieces and nephews.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements. www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com