Dale L. Dudas 81, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at his residence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Illiopolis Methodist Church with the Rev. Butch Reneker officiating. Burial was held in Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Mr. Dudas was born Sept. 20, 1938, at home in Staunton, to the late George A. and Lillie (Sexton) Dudas. He married Delores A. Walch of Raymond on Feb. 14, 1960, and she survives.
A graduate of Staunton High School, he joined the Army National Guard during his senior year of high school, where he was part of the Litchfield Unit, later the Decatur Unit, and lastly belonging to the Springfield Headquarters Unit, from which he retired.
He attended many military schools and graduated from the NCO school. He was part of the Army National Guard for over 39 years, plus two-and-a-half years in inactive Army Reserve. He earned the rank of Master Sergeant.
In June 1980, he received an appointment to Warrant Officer CW2. He retired in April 1996, as Chief Warrant Officer CW4. He retired from the full-time service in May 1996, after 27 years of service.
For nine years, he worked for the Hillsboro Glass Factory, before becoming a full-time guard. After his retirement, he worked for Ken Catchpole's Greenhouse until he retired. He then worked for DeKalb Poultry until it closed down, then worked at Sears until 2010, when he had health problems.
He continued to keep a garden and do yard work until he was put into hospice. He was always a hard worker from the time he was very young, losing his father when he was 11, working to set up bowling pins after school, being the custodian of the Staunton United Methodist Church and mowing lawns. An Illiopolis volunteer firefighter for 22 years, he was a member of the Illiopolis Methodist Church.
He loved his family and always put their needs before his own. He will be greatly missed by his family.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Dayton (wife Sue) of Indiana and Devin (wife Laurie) of Springfield; nine grandchildren, Destiny (Steve) Asselin of Florida, Dawn Dudas of Stanford, Nick (Jessie) McKinney, Mailynne (Christian) Calvin and Krystal Dudas, all of Tennessee, Michael Dudas of Pleasant Plains, David, Tim and Heather Dudas of Springfield; ten great-grandchildren, Brayden Robertson of Stanford, Aidan and Addison McKinney, Presley, Chrislynne, Sloan and Skye Calvin of Tennessee, and Erin, Brynne and Avery Asselin of Florida; two sisters-in-law, Juanita Dudas of St. Louis, MO, and Cleo Dudas of Caseyville; brother-in-law, Richard (wife Beverly) Walch of Springfield; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and George Dudas, Jr.; and grandparents, John and Susan (Micoley) Dudas of Mt. Olive, originally from Austria, and Sam and Sara (Allen) Sexton of Staunton.
Memorials may be made to the Illiopolis Fire Department or the Illiopolis United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.parkfuneralhomesinc.com.
