Jim Fudoli, 73, of Mountain Home, AR, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at his home.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mountain Home, AR. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Kenneth Taglauer officiating.
Burial will be at Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery in Mountain Home, AR, followed by a luncheon at the Fellowship Hall of Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Mr. Fudoli was born on Dec. 5, 1941, in Peoria, the son of Velma and Jim Fudoli, Sr. He married Cynthia Hauser of Litchfield on Feb. 16, 1963, and she survives.
His family moved to Litchfield, where he graduated high school and received all state honors in athletics. Following high school he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and signed on as a pitcher and played four years. He attended Eastern Illinois University in Mattoon and finished his last season in baseball.
After the birth of his son, Jimmy III, Mr. Fudoli and his family moved to St. Louis where he worked at Smith Barney Brokerage House. After vacationing in Theodosia, MO, for several years, they moved down to Bull Shoals Lake, where he began working as a fishing guide. He soon joined the professional fishing circuit, including B.A.S.S. He was fortunate to become friends with Forrest and Nina Wood and traveled to tournaments with them and became an early representative for Ranger Boats in the tournaments.
After moving to Mountain Home, AR, in 1975, he devoted much of his time to baseball programs from Little League to American Legion. He found great joy in working with the players and helping them discover and develop their talents. He also enjoyed duck hunting with friends in Batchtown and Brinkley, AR.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Fudoli is survived by his son, Jimmy III (wife Loretta); grandson, Brock of Conway, AR; and his sister, Rosemary (Dr. D. Ross) Billiter of Litchfield.
