August 18, 2008  

PHILADELPHIA, N.Y.  —  Kevin L. Rudes, 59, of Garden Road, died at home on Sunday evening Aug. 17, surrounded by family members.

Born Oct. 12, 1948, in Rome, son of the late Kenneth G. and Luella I. Maxiner Rudes, he graduated in 1968 from Indian River Central School, Philadelphia. Following graduation, he joined the Army National Guard and served from 1968 to 1972. 

He married Connie Jewett McConnell on July 28, 1979, in Black River.

Mr. Rudes worked for the Department of Transportation Traffic Control, Watertown, from 1968 to 1977, and was employed for twenty five years with Drew Building Supply, Antwerp, retiring in 2002. Later that year, he began working for the village of Philadelphia as a water and wastewater treatment operator until March 2008, retiring due to till health. 

He was a past member of the Philadelphia Volunteer Fire Department, Philadelphia Fire Department Ambulance and the Philadelphia Fire Department Benevolent Association, and was a member of the Philadelphia Masonic Lodge # 916 for thirty eight years, serving as past master and currently as secretary. He had been a Town of Philadelphia Council member since 2006.

Mr. Rudes enjoyed traveling, gardening and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Surviving besides his wife are three sons and their wives, Scott M. and Cindy Rudes, Newalla, Okla., Todd E. and Jennifer L. McConnell, Philadelphia, Scott W. and Jennifer L. McConnell, East Windsor, N.J.; a daughter and her husband, Dawn T. and William Phillips, Mechanicville; two brothers and their wives, Keith and Carol Rudes, Philadelphia, and Kenneth and Sue Rudes, Adams; a sister, Nancy Ronas, Philadelphia; three grandsons and four granddaughters, Carson, Kaden, Caitlin and Megan McConnell and Payton, McKenna and Declan Phillips; several nieces and nephews.

A daughter, Kristina Rudes, died before him.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at Philadelphia United Methodist Church with Nelda McCarthy, lay assistant to the pastor, and Rev. Donald Briant of the Clayton, Depauville and Wellesley Island United Methodist Churches, officiating. Burial will be at Childs Falls Sunrise Cemetery, Philadelphia. Calling hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Frederick Bros. Funeral Home, Inc., 38422 Route 37, Theresa.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons Street, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY, 13067.

Condolences may be made online at www.frederickbrosfuneralhome.com.  

Information provided by Frederick Bros. Funeral Home, Inc. and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.