Funeral services for Vincent J. Dudley will be held on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea. Father Timothy Reker and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug. 29, from 4-7 p.m. at the Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea location, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Faribault, at approximately 2 p.m. the day of the service.
Vince Dudley passed away on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, (88 years old) at Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea. He was born near Faribault on Sept. 2, 1924, to Joseph and Hannah (O'Brien) Dudley, the youngest of six children. He was raised near Shieldsville, a small farming community, and attended high school in Faribault. He always remained proud of his Irish heritage.
After school he was working on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) when a traveling Marine recruiter caught his attention. Vince signed on with the Marines at age 17. He did his service in the Pacific as an airplane mechanic doing his part to bring that phase of the war to a successful end.
In August 1944, he married Beverley Nelson and they had five daughters and a son. Beverley passed in August 1985. Vince was united in marriage with Cathie Wilson in August 1995 and together the couple had one child.
Vince was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church. Vince worked hard as a grocery store manager, overseeing many stores in southern Minnesota throughout his career. His most cherished store was the one he owned in Albert Lea, Dudley's I.G.A. Vince was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus.
Vince was a very hard worker. He was a very mechanical man, and could fix just about anything that was put in front of him. In his free time, he liked to go camping, hunting and fishing in northern Minnesota. He enjoyed telling stories and jokes, which showed off his great sense of humor. He was a loving, kind and supportive person who was very proud of his family.
Surviving members of his family include his wife, Cathie Dudley of Albert Lea; children, LaNaya (Harry) Brown of Faribault, Minn., Patricia (John) Wilcox of Centerville, Mass., Kathleen Dudley of Minneapolis, Mary (Larry) Goodnature of Albert Lea, Teresa (Kevin) Morris of Janesville, Minn., Joe Dudley of Chicago, Ill., and Calen Dudley of Albert Lea; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.
Those who preceded Vince in death are his parents, Joseph and Hannah Dudley; first wife, Beverley (Nelson) Dudley; brother, John Dudley; and sisters, Olive Dudley, Carmen Heyes, Dolores Dudley, and Dorothy Dudley.
Memorials are preferred to St. Theodore Catholic School.