Billie Joe (Grimes) Rudd (1920 - 2002)

Born 22 Jul 1920 in Novice, Coleman, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Billy John Rudd — married 17 Oct 1942 (to 8 Sep 2002) in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Sep 2002 at age 82 in New Braunfels, Comal County, TEXAS

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carol Thompson [send private message]

Biography

Billie Joe Grimes was born in the small mid-TEXAS town of Novice on July 22nd, 1920 ^[1] She grew up, the only girl, in a nest of brothers, in a ranching community, as the American Depression began. She knew few hardships, had a childhood of appreciation for classical music, a love of reading, the value of hard work and was surrounded by that nest of caring/protective brothers. Her aunt Edith Pratt (Mom Pratt to her) was a classically trained musician, read a book a week, taught Billie Joe to appreciate the Impressionists, all Bible references, and grew in her a love of teaching. She, with two (James and Donald) of her three brothers, is listed in the US Federal 1940 Census for Coleman County ^[2] With some scholarship assistance, she enrolled in the Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas. ^[3] She met the love of her life Billy John Rudd, a ruggedly handsome tall red-headed freckled 6’2” student, Core of Cadets, at TEXAS A & M, later Class of ’41…a blind date to an Aggie football game. It was love at first sight and they were never separated until death took her in 2002. After both had graduated from their respective universities, they married in Houston, TEXAS ^[4] Born to this union were Carol Elizabeth Rudd, August of 1944, Jane Ellen Rudd October 1946, and JohnMark Rudd, March 1956. As soon as the daughters were old enough for school, Billie Joe attained a Texas Teaching Certificate and began what proved to be a long and illustrious teaching career which ended with Woodway Baptist Private School. Her local and national teaching awards are legend, including television appearances on a local Houston station. She and Ramalda Spaulding authored the basic instruction book on the Montessori Method of teaching phonics, which became a standard of excellence. She taught Sunday School, as her family laughed ‘from birth.’ She was considered a Biblical scholar. She and Bill Rudd were instrumental in the origin of several Baptist churches, both in Houston and New Braunfels, their retirement home base. Even in her retirement, she was the founding anchor of the modern church library at Oakview Baptist Church in New Braunfels, the model for many other church libraries. She listened and obeyed her beloved husband who relied on her wisdom. Her gentle and genteel Southern manners were a teaching tool for all. Bill and Billie Rudd were inseparable. They rest side by side in the Guadalupe Valley Cemetery, TEXAS.

Sources

1. ↑ Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932; Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Birth, Coleman County, City of Novice
2. ↑ US 1940 Federal Census, Coleman County, TEXAS
3. ↑ Coleman County Chronicle, October 23, 1941, October 3, 1940, March 20, 1941, pledged Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honorary society
4. ↑ Texas, Select County Marriage Records, 1837-2015, Harris County 1942

• Carol Elizabeth Rudd Thompson, her eldest daughter.