Obituary of Madge Rudd
(C. Avis Catalog entry #463)
(Document ID #486)
Austin American-Statesman
Austin, Texas
Sunday, May 3, 1992
Deaths and funerals
Madge Rudd
Madge Rudd of Austin died Wednesday evening, April 29, 1992.
She had lived 95 wonderful years. She had a long and distinguished career in education In Texas and South Carolina. She taught physics in Spartanburg High School for many years and among her students she proudly claimed General Westmoreland. She also taught science in Alvin, Texas, immediately after she graduated in 1918 from the College of Industrial Arts now Texas Woman's University in Denton. She held a master's degree from Wofford College in South Carolina and did graduate work at Columbia University, the University of Texas and the University of Hawaii.
Miss Rudd was active and held office in the leading teachers' organizations including National Education Association, Classroom Teachers and the South Carolina Education Association. She was also a member of Freedom's Foundation.
She came to Austin in 1960 to accept the position of executive secretary of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. When she retired she became business manager of The Jeffery School and held the position until the school closed In 1981.
During her 48 years of membership in Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society for women educators, she served as president, vice president and treasurer of her chapter; state president of South Carolina and chairman of several committees; state chairman of the Southeast Regional Conference in 1955 and Southeast Regional Director 1956-1958. At the International level she was chairman of the Constitution Committee and was a member of the International Administrative Board 1956-1958 and during her years as executive secretary. Jeannie Youngblood served as Miss Rudd's secretary and when she was leaving the position, the International Administrative Board, was meeting in Austin. She read the following statement to the Board: "Only if you had worked with Miss Rudd on a daily basis for over four years could you appreciate her as I do - not only as a boss but as a person. Her intelligence, her consistent congeniality, her patience and understanding and that zest for life that she has, has been a real inspiration to me. I have never seen anyone with so much energy and I am sure that you on the Board can or will in the coming year appreciate the eagerness and sincere desire to help in any way that she can to fulfill the purposes for which Delta Kappa Gamma was organized."
Miss Rudd traveled extensively. In 1966 she served as co-director of Comparative Education Field Study in Australia, New Zealand, Jordan and Israel. After 1966 she went numerous times to the Soviet Union, East and West Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, Mexico, Canada,Iceland and Outer Mongolia. She particulary enjoyed the December Russian Winter Festivals and went for the last time when she was 91.
Miss Rudd is survived by her sister, Mrs. L.V. Ragsdale of Mystic, Connecticut and her children; nieces, Mrs. L.B. Griffith, Jr. (Hilda) of Austin and Mrs. W.W. Collins (Peggy) of Fort Worth; nephew Dwight Chiles of Dallas; and a number of grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She Is also survived by her traveling companion and friend of many years, Dr. Inez Jeffery.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs. T.J. McElhenney and Mrs. Fay Chiles; a brother, Charles Rudd; and her nephew, Dr. Thomas R. McElhenney.
Memorial services will be held in the University Presbyterian Church, San Antonio and 22nd Streets, Saturday, May 9 at 11 o'clock a.m.
In lieu of flowers, It was Miss Rudd's request that donations be made to the World Fellowship Fund, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, 416 West 12th Street, Austin 78701 or to The Settlement Home, 1600 Peyton Gin Road, Austin 78758.
The members of the Rudd family and Dr. Jeffery express particular appreciation to Mrs. Venturina Biggs for the professional and loving care given to Miss Rudd during her illness.
Arrangements by Weed-Corley Funeral Home. 3125 N. Lamar. 452-8811.