200th Post

Somehow I thought my 200th post would be closer to my 199th post but sadly there has been a huge gap in postings.  A lot has happened between then and now.  In the coming days I hope to do some tributes or at least post some obituaries but in the meantime I have something I'd like to share with you.  While checking something else out entirely unrelated to the Rudes family I found a picture shared on the Harris-Elmore website by Mr. Luther Miller.  If you would be so kind as to click here you will see a picture of Carlos & Lillie (Hatch) Rudes and their sons Harry, Merrill, Raymond and Gail.

Source:  Harris-Elmore Library's Local History Room website.

Date:  Abt. 1916 according to the label.

Where it fits:  Carlos Rudes is the father of Ercell, Cecil, Merrill, Gail, Raymond & Dewey.  He is the grandfather of Merrill & George Rudes.

The Whole Rudes Gang

In the most recent batch of photographs I scanned there were a couple group pictures. Boy was I pleased to find these as I was rummaging through things. This is from the water damaged box so I apologize for the shabby copy and if anybody has a better copy or a way of fixing this one I would be much obliged. From what I can make out I believe this to be Della Meyer-Rudes in the back row on the far right side. I believe she has her arm around Diane Rudes. The next row is Merrill in the back, Mary Cary Leutz-Rudes and then Merrill the younger. Terrence is between Merrill & Randy. Behind Randy is his mother, Marian Bringe. Behind Marian is George. Marian appears to be holding on to Connie & De Ila who are the two girls standing on the pillars by the stairs.

Timeframe: I think De Ila and Connie look to be about the same size in this picture as they do in yesterdays so I am guessing it was taken in the 1960's, pre-1963. Correction: There is a date on the bottom of the image that says Sep. 59 so I guess that makes it closer to 1959 than yesterday's 1961. :-) Thanks for pointing that out De Ila.

Where It Fits: Randolph & Connie are the children of George Rudes & Marian Bringe. Diane, Merrill, Terrence & De Ila are the children of Merrill Rudes & Mary Cary Leutz. Merrill & George are the sons of Merrill Rudes & Della Meyer. Della is the daughter of George Harlow Meyer & Marguerite Schnackenberg.

Today's Birthdays are Elizabeth Johannsen, John Meyer, Malinda Disher-Rahm and Kathy Cash.

Mary Cary, Della, Diane & Merrill

This is another one of those water damaged pictures but I believe I can make everybody out. This appears to be Della Meyer-Rudes, Mary Cary Leutz-Rudes, Diane & baby Merrill.

Timeframe: Looks like the Spring/Summer of 1946 to me.

Where It Fits: Della Meyer married Merrill Rudes. They had Merrill Rudes & George Rudes. Their son Merrill married Mary Caroline Leutz and they had four children. The oldest two children are in this picture, Diane & Merrill.