Francis Lumbard Rudine's Obituary
Francis Lumbard Rudine Born September 9, 1916, on the future site of Dallas Memorial Auditorium; died peaceably in his own bed at Sunrise Senior Living of Plano on January 13, 2010 – a scant week after the passing of his daughter Francine Rudine in Bahia, Brazil. Francis Rudine graduated from North Dallas High School in 1934. He worked at the Texas State Centennial and graduated with honors from SMU. His work as an estimator in the construction industry was interrupted by World War II. Unable to pass his physical, he characteristically bluffed his way through a “turn left, strain, and cough” exam and into Officer Training School. The young second lieutenant landed in France as part of the second wave of Operation Overlord in 1944. Francis fell in love with Lois Sustala and they were married during the war. They had three children: Francine, Robby, and Ricky. After the war, with a loan from his father, Francis founded United Construction Company, which for forty uninterruptedly profitable years engaged in building Texas infrastructure with reservoirs, water treatment plants, pipelines, tank removals, and environmental remediations. Francis designed and supervised his own construction crew in building the family home at 4311 Brookview Drive. Known simply as “4311,” the home was a way station for visitors from many nations, for family and friends – a true meeting house. Francis was known as “FL” to friends, family, and colleagues alike. Francis was a charter member of Lovers Lane Methodist Church and served on the building finance committee for the new sanctuary. In 1988, Francis and his family directed the proceeds of a legal settlement toward the founding of the Richard A. “Ricky” Rudine Memorial Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) and the Seattle Foundation. In inspired collaboration with his family, Ed Fjordbak of CFT, and Thelma Morris-Lindsey, Francis formed Earning by Learning, a motivational literacy program that has served 70,000 Dallas school children. After his first government sponsored trip abroad, FL traveled the world visiting his globetrotting offspring and even taking his father on a trip to his Swedish birthplace. For himself, he undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to be baptized in the River Jordan. FL was an original – forceful, focused, indefatigable, witty, and given to flashes of brilliant insight and intuition. His son-in-law Peter Wittman said Francis operated on more levels than any man he had ever known. Francis sometimes offered support of his wife Lois’ spiritual seeking through opposition, but never tried to limit the scope of her curiosity. Theirs was a sometimes stormy love affair, but love affair it was, and lifelong. When Lois returned to Texas from a four-year medical stay with her daughter in Brazil in December of 2008, she delivered the ultimate benediction on and to her husband: “Well done, ye good and faithful servant.” The Rudine family wishes to acknowledge Esther Panlilio, the caregivers of Treasured Moments (Pastor Wilson Kabuu, Esther Kireu, Teresiah Owens, Irene Mbugua, and Sammy Abraham) and the staff of Sunrise Senior Living of Plano and Platinum Home Health for loving care of Francis. This team of helpers made FL’s last years of a long life one of adventure. He got out and about. . . even traveling by air, car, and ferry to Port Bolivar, Texas just four months ago for his 09/09/09 birthday. On this memorable trip he visited with his dear sister-in-law Ruby Ewing and was able to tour the Volunteer Fire Department which he had helped restore from the damage of Hurricane Ike. Francis was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Lois Rudine on Feb. 1, 2009, by his son Ricky, his daughter Francine, his grandson Christopher Rudine Wittman, and his brother, Alfred. Francis’ parents were Texas-born Gudrun Lodal Rudine and Volfred Fabian Rudine, born in Vikingstad, Sweden. Francis is survived by his son Robert Rudine, daughter-in-law Janet Yoder, son-in-law Peter Wittman, god-grandson William Santos Reis de Santana, Esther Panlilio, and extended family and friends. Memorial gifts in honor of Francis Rudine can be made to Earning by Learning, 2904 Floyd Street, Suite A1, Dallas, TX, 75204-5910. Interment of ashes, along with those of his beloved Lois, at Restland on Sunday, January 24, at 1:30 PM. Service at Asbury Hall in Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, on Sunday, January 24, at 3 PM.
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