On Tuesday evening, friends, family members, and community residents came together to pay their respects to Dorothy J. “Pat” Rudd, a beloved St. Cloud resident who passed away on December 2, 2025, at the age of 104. Pat was remembered not only for her long and meaningful life, but for the kindness, dedication, and strength she brought to everyone around her.

The service was officiated by Reverend Cathy Thacker of First United Methodist of St. Cloud, followed by a sweet rendition of Amazing Grace by Pearl Tindell.

Born on August 29, 1921, in Peoria, Illinois, Pat’s life was a testament to service and resilience. As a proud member of the United States Navy WAVES during World War II, she served at Pearl Harbor, where she met her future husband, Gerald “Jerry” Rudd. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and community—a legacy that continues to resonate through generations.

After moving to the Orlando area, Pat worked in graphic arts with Martin Marietta and later with Sun Bank, where she eventually retired. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she was deeply involved in civic and veterans’ organizations. Pat was an active member of the Methodist faith, a longtime treasurer for the Order of the Eastern Star, and a volunteer whose quilting, crocheting, and crafting brought comfort to many. She was known for making prayer shawls, pocket crosses, and thoughtful gifts that lifted the spirits of those in need.

During Tuesday’s visitation and funeral service, held at the Osceola County Council on Aging, attendees shared memories of a woman who touched lives through her compassion, generosity, and unwavering love for others. Stories of her gardening, her passion for canning, her devotion to family, and her remarkable sharpness and humor even in her later years reflected the joy she gave to so many.

Surrounded by loved ones, Pat was laid to rest Tuesday morning at Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery in Kissimmee.

She is survived by her daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and extended family—each one carrying forward the values she lived by. For more than a century, Dorothy J. “Pat” Rudd built a legacy of service, faith, and love that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

May she be remembered with gratitude, and may her family find comfort in the extraordinary life she lived.