Henry Rudd

Henry Herman Rudd was the third born of two educators, Henry Sue Shurette Rudd and Herman Houston Rudd on April 19, 1935. He is survived by two siblings, Ann Evans of Tuscaloosa and Will Rudd of Pensacola. Children - Wanda Shipp (Mike), Debbie Elliott (Ron), John Kirkes, Dan Kirkes (Ellen), Ken Kirkes (Leilani), Nathan Rudd and JessAnn Rudd. Grandchildren - Miranda Culpepper (Todd), Kyndal Beams (Donnie), Evan Shipp (Candace), Mandy Yasuda (Jonathan), Marybeth Lindley (Erik), Caleb Waid (Brittney), Kurt Waid (Brandi), Cassie Gamble, Jason Kirkes (Jackie), Britney Kirkes (Adam Sosnowchik), Brandon Kirkes (Amy), Logan Kirkes, Heath Kirkes, Chris Preuc (Angela), Leira Preuc and Weston Rudd. Great grandchildren - Auburn & Berkley Culpepper, Myka & McKenna Beams, Christian, Anslee-Grayden, Coupland & Della Shipp, Heidi, Holly, Amaya & Whitney Yasuda, Henry Cage, Luke & Halle Lindley, Henry Finn, Rhett & Holland Waid, Easton & Eden Waid, Logan & Piper Gamble, Jeremiah, Lillian & Maverick Kirkes, Mia Izzy, Lucas & Lexie Sosnowchik, Tatum & Wyatt Kirkes, Christopher, Aszah, Avery & Kekoa Preuc.

Raised in Coker, AL, Henry learned the value of hard work by farming, but had a keen interest in automobiles. After attending the University of AL, he naturally pursued a career with cars and co-owned #33 race car, a red ’57 Chevy. He also excelled as a valued member of a pit crew at the Birmingham International Raceway. Becoming a Master Mechanic, Henry worked as a service manager or shop foreman for Richard Kelley Chevrolet, Serra Chevrolet,

 Chuck Hutton, Century and Edward Chevrolet 280. After spending over 55 years in the automobile service industry, Henry retired at the age of 79.

At age 39, Henry met Gayle on a blind date, married her 4 months later and stepped into being a loving role model to her five children, Wanda 14, Debbie 12, Johnny 11, Danny 9 and Kenny age 6. Henry and Gayle later served as Foster Parents to over 20 children before adopting a brother and sister, Nathan and JessAnn. As a soft spoken, easy going problem solver, one rarely ever saw Henry get rattled. He simply did what was required with great resiliency and held his family together with fortitude grace, and sacrificial love. “A rare breed” Gayle would often say of him, as well as, her “diamond in the rough”.

As a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in 1999, Henry heard a sermon titled “Kissing Jesus” and realized that although he had walked the aisle as a young boy, he had not surrendered his life to Jesus. He had been doing his own thing and was not pursuing a relationship with God and His plan for his life. He chose that day to accept Jesus as his Lord and never looked back.

In 2003, Henry and Gayle moved to Ashville and found a loving church family at FBC Ashville where Henry was honored to humbly and faithfully serve as a deacon. Any success he had, he attributed to staying connected to his Savior. To Henry prayer was not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble, but a “steering wheel” that purposefully directs and keeps you on the right path.