CLYDELLE COOK RUDESEAL

Clydelle Cook Rudeseal, the only child of June M. Cook and Norma Plunkett Cook was born August 6, 1923, in Ringgold, Louisiana. She departed this life on March 8, 2024, at the age of 100, in Hemphill, Texas.

Clydelle married Herman L. Rudeseal on April 23, 1940, and their union lasted 75 years and 11 months until his death in March 2016. After Herman's graduation from chiropractic college in 1948, they moved to Orange, Texas, where they called home for the remainder of their lives. In Orange, they raised their six children.

After her youngest child was born, Clydelle decided it was time to pursue her lifelong goal of becoming a teacher and entered Lamar University where she majored in education and minored in piano. Upon graduation, she was hired at McLewis Elementary School where she spent twenty years teaching fourth grade. Clydelle loved teaching and until her very last years could recall all her students' names and details about what they were like in her class.

Clydelle's talents were extensive. As a child she showed great musical ability. She began piano lessons at the age of eight and by the time she was ten, her piano teacher called on her at a moment's notice to fill in for an adult in a piano quartet where she sight-read the music in front of the audience. She went on to share her musical talent by playing the piano and organ for church and accompanying many soloists along the way as well as entertaining her family at home with musical selections ranging from Liebestraum and Rustles of Spring to her own arrangement of How Great Thou Art. While her children were growing up, she spent hours sewing miles of fabric making their school clothes, recital costumes, and homecoming and prom dresses oftentimes completing the finishing touches as the children were running out the door. After retiring, she became interested in china painting and amassed an extensive collection of dishes that she beautifully painted. Knitting was another of her hobbies. In her later years, she knitted intricate afghans for all her children and grandchildren.

When her children were in school, Clydelle served as the president of the PTA for both Curtis and Jones school. During retirement, she acted as president of the Golden K Kiwanis and participated in the Chamber Musicians as well as Retired Teachers of Orange County.

She is survived by her children, daughters, Norma Godwin, Martha Banning and husband Michael, Clytie Lea and husband George, Wanda Lester and husband Dr. Robert Lester, and sons Dr. Frank Rudeseal, Sr. and wife Eda, and Dr. Ronald Rudeseal. Survivors also include grandchildren Bill Godwin III, Elizabeth Briggs, Patrick Godwin, Carter Godwin, Eric Lea, Elizabeth Lea, Bobby Lester, Jane Watson, Gretchen Arnold, Tiffany Hethcox, Scott Banning, Steve Banning, and Carly Standley as well as 22 great grandchildren and 22 great-great grandchildren.

After cremation, a private memorial will be held for family and close friends.

Cremation arrangements were handled by Starr Funeral Home, Hemphill, Texas.

Memories and condolences may be shared at starrfuneralhome.com.

https://www.starrfuneralhome.com/obituary/clydelle-rudeseal