Harold Rudloff

Harold William Rudloff, 87, entered his heavenly home on March 1, 2008 at Bluebonnet Hills Care Center in Brenham. Mr. Rufloff was born September 26, 1920 on a farm on the Jones Creek near Willow Springs, Texas in Fayette County, the son of Monroe and Tonie Rudloff. He was baptized on Nov. 16, 1920 in the Haw Creek Methodist Church by Rev. Schmalz. He was confirmed on Nov. 25, 1934 in the Industry Methodist Church by Rev. A. Peterson. He underwent subsequent instructions in the Lutheran Faith by the Rev. Theo. Streng at the St. Paul''s Lutheran Church in 1948. At an early age, he and his parents moved to a farm on the Skull Creek near Shelby, Texas in Austin County, where he spent his boyhood years, a child of The Great Depression. He attended elementary school at Skull Creek Public School. In his teens, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and during World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a corporal in the Medical Corps. After World War II, he entered Blinn College and received his AA degree. He received his Bachelor of Education from Sam Houston State University and his Masters of Education from the University of Houston and did doctorate work at Texas A&M. While at Blinn, he met Bernice Elaine Muery and they were married January 4, 1948 in the St. Paul''s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham. Mr. Rudloff devoted his life to education, especially Texas history. He began his teaching career at Cypress-Fairbanks. Then he served at Wallis High School as a history teacher and coach. While at Wallis, he was a member of Wallis Volunteer Fire Department. He became principal of Kenney Rural High School and served there until Kenney School was consolidated into the Brenham Independent School System. He continued teaching history at Brenham Intermediate and High School until his retirement after a 34 year teaching career. He also organized a Scout Troop and served as its Scoutmaster. He also coached Little League. Mr. Rudloff was a member of Austin County Historical Commission and Texas State Historical Commission and several other historical societies. He wrote a book about Skull Creek School, the history of Kenney School, the history of Buddy Wright Post No. 48 of the American Legion of Brenham, as well as several other histories. Mr Rudloff was a past commander of Shelby American Legion Post 602. He served Buddy Wright Post No. 48 of the American Legion in Brenham as historian and chaplain. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and served there in several capacities. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church''s LL Club and the Voters Group. He also served as a Lay Minister in the Lutheran Church. While at Kenney High School, he and Bernice sold their Muery Farm on Farmer''s Road and built their home at 201 Cornish in Brenham where they lived over 25 years until the tragic death of his wife and then retirement. Survivors include his sister Lorine Eckermann, brother Oliver Rudloff and wife Waldine; nieces and nephews: Joyce and husband Carl Bridges, Allen Gene and wife Bertha Eckermann, Dan C. Eckermann and wife Karen, Dr. Lawrence Eckermann and wife Marsha, Alfred Eckermann Jr. and wife Sue, Arlie Eckermann and wife Jennifer, Michael Rudloff, Randall Rudloff and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice Elaine Muery and by his parents, Monroe and Tonie Rudloff; his parents-in-law Henry and Ida Schumacher Muery; brother-in-law Alfred Eckermann, Sr., and a foster brother, Elwood Schmidt. Funeral services for Harold Rudloff will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Matthew Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday in Memorial Oaks Chapel. Serving as pallbearers will be Harold''s cousins: Active pallbearers: Dennis Rudloff, Rueben Rudloff, Percy Rudloff, Wendell Rudloff, John Lee Spiess and Benjamin Spiess. Honorary pallbearers are Perry Rudloff, Waldo Luedeker, Virgil Luedeker, Waldo Moeller, Luther Blezinger, Al Weiser, Ed Nobra, Tom Rabgb, Ricky Rudloff, Terry Rudloff, Troy Rudloff, Ronnie Rudloff, Danny Rudloff, Warren Meischen, and Slick Zapalac. Memorials may be given to Industry Historical Methodist Church Restoration Fund, P. O. Box 100, Industry, Texas 78944 or to Grace Lutheran Church of Brenham. The family wishes to thank the caregivers and nurses at Bluebonnet Hills Care Center for their care and attention to Harold during his long stay there. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel. To view the obituary online or to post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com