Ellen Rudolph

Ellen Lucille Rudolph, of Ionia, age 92, passed away May 7, 2009. Lucille was co-owner of Rudolph Heating and Plumbing of Ionia for 25 years. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ionia for 67 years and served as a Deacon for 6 years. She was also active in the Yellow Rose and the Ionia Women's Literary Club and was an assistant scout leader in the Ionia Boy and Girl Scouts. She delivered Meals-on-Wheels for several years and helped in the annual March of Dimes campaigns. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing with friends until the age of 91. She also enjoyed traveling and playing bridge in several weekly bridge groups. Lucille loved spending time with family and was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by four children, a son Ken (Pat) Rudolph of Jackson and daughters Cynthia (Edward) Baker of Weeki Wackee, Fla., Cheryl Harkness of Ionia and Carla (Dave DiCarlo) Lawson of Ionia; seven grandchildren, Lisa (Mitch) Walker, Kim Harkness, Stacy (Chris) Sturgill, Kyle (Leti) Rudolph, Andrea (Mike) Wood, Zachariah (Alicia) Lawson and Rachel Lawson and 13 great-grandchildren. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth W. Rudolph, Sr.; grandson, Samuel Bloemers; parents Herbert and Wilhelmina Dunn; brothers, Morris, Richard, Kenneth and Floyd Dunn; sisters, Wilma Penland and Francis Tingley and sons-in-law Dale Lawson and John Harkness. According to her wishes, Lucille will be cremated. A memorial service will be held at the Ionia First Presbyterian Church Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Doyle Calley and Hospice for their great care and assistance in the final days before Lucille's death. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ionia First Presbyterian Church, Ionia Hospice or Ionia Cancer Society. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ellen Rudolph, please visit our flower store.