Paul Carl Rudd

Paul Carl Rudd, 59, of La Grande, died Sept. 26 on Mount Harris in a hunting accident. A viewing will run from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Lighthouse Church in Island City. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.

Paul was born July 20, 1951, to Wally and Marietta (Dodds) Rudd in La Grande. He lived most of his life in La Grande and attended the local schools, graduating from La Grande High School in 1969. Paul enrolled in Eastern Oregon State College, working at Terry Trailers and Boise Cascade on the green chain to pay for his education, graduating with his bachelor's degree in 1973. It was at this time he started his lifelong occupation of farming.

On June 21, 1974, he married Janet Shaw and they became the parents of two children, Brett and Deena.

Paul had a great love for farming. He served on several agricultural organizations including the Oregon Fescue Commission, U.C. Seed Growers Association as Blue Mountain seed director, Oregon Sheep Growers, Wheat League and Farm Bureau. He was awarded Young Farmer of the Year and Conservation Man of the Year. He devoted 20 years of service as Soil and Water Conservation director.

He was a member of the National Ski Patrol for 38 years, serving as Ski Patrol leader and section chief, being awarded two purple merit stars and a blue merit star. He was a CPR instructor and had his private pilot's license. Paul loved to fly, and often flew family and friends to spend the afternoon at Joseph or McCall or just to go and have breakfast.

Paul enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, horseback riding, hunting, trap shooting, fishing, bicycling, motorcycle riding and classic car restoration. But those who knew him say his greatest love and the very center of his life was his family. He loved playing with his grandchildren, and camping and traveling with family and friends. He traveled with his family to Grand Cayman, West Europe, Roatan, Honduras, Hawaii and Mexico.

Paul is survived by his wife, Janet; son, Brett and his wife, Kara Rudd, of La Grande; daughter, Deena and her husband, Jesse Reed, of Union; three grandchildren; father, Wally and his wife, Marilyn Rudd, of Cove; brother, Mike and his wife, Susan Rudd, of Denver; sister, Susan Ping of Helena, Mont.; sister, Leora and her husband, Louie Garcia, of Ripon, Calif.; step-brothers and stepsisters, Earl Davis, Larry Davis and Cheryl Bolin; aunts and uncles; seven nieces and nephews; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Marietta; and two brothers-in-law, Brock Ping and Rien deLint.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol.

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