(From Parker Mortuary)
John Robert Tudenham, age 91, Joplin, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at his home.
John was born September 14, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, the only son of the late Robert Charles Tudenham and Ouida Katherine Simmons Tudenham. He grew up in St. Louis where he graduated from Beaumont High School in 1946.
During and after high school, he worked for Walter Ashe Radio. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Oakland, CA, French Morocco, and finally Amarillo, TX, one of several adopted home towns.
After the Air Force, he began his career at the United States Postal Service and also worked part time as disc jockey for KIXZ, an Amarillo radio station, as “John Roberts”. He had a passion for radio, but felt the Post Office was a more secure career. He married June Ramage in November of 1956, and to this union they had a daughter, Sherrie. June passed away in 2014.
Though his career with the United States Postal Service began in Amarillo, it allowed him to transfer to Tulsa, OK in 1966 to be closer to his daughter and family. He retired after 30+ years in 1984 and moved to Joplin.
He was always a very caring and outgoing person and made numerous friends over the years that he kept in contact with through his love of traveling with his wife, Betty, or through his Ham Radio. He was an avid Ham Radio operator (W0JRP) and was a member of several local and national Radio Clubs, a licensed educator helping people get their Ham Radio license, and taught morse code. A Last Call for a Silent Key will be made to honor him.
He loved sports, with baseball and football being his favorites, but the St. Louis Cardinals were his very favorite team. He could recall stats back to when he was in grade school and would take the city bus to games. He also loved anything that had to do with Route 66, since it mentioned his favorite places, St. Louis, Lebanon, Joplin, Tulsa, and Amarillo. He also loved animals. He was a very good bowler and enjoyed the friends he made in leagues over the years. He made friends wherever he went including two of his favorite restaurants, Pizza Inn and McDonalds on Main Street, Joplin. He considered these more than casual encounters; they were truly special in his life.
John was also actively involved with his church, Park Plaza Christian Church, where prior to his passing, he was the longest term member, joining in the early 60’s with his wife, Betty.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Betty Jo Greenwood Tudenham, who passed away in 2015. He has also lost many special friends, distant relatives that he kept in contact with, and in-laws in the last few years.
Survivors include his daughter, Sherrie Waterman and husband Tim of Joplin; stepdaughter, Theresa Darlene King and husband Bill of Carl Junction; grandchildren, Summer Cole and husband Derek, Corey Waterman and wife Danielle, Sarah Fuller and husband Kelvin all of Joplin, and Justin King of Granby, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Jordan Berry, Emily Cole, Lexi King, Katie Carter, and Baylee King; and his beloved in-law family, the Greenwoods.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor B.A. Austin officiating. Interment will follow in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with family serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Park Plaza Christian Church or the Joplin Humane Society.
Though his career with the United States Postal Service began in Amarillo, it allowed him to transfer to Tulsa, OK in 1966 to be closer to his daughter and family. He retired after 30+ years in 1984 and moved to Joplin.
He was always a very caring and outgoing person and made numerous friends over the years that he kept in contact with through his love of traveling with his wife, Betty, or through his Ham Radio. He was an avid Ham Radio operator (W0JRP) and was a member of several local and national Radio Clubs, a licensed educator helping people get their Ham Radio license, and taught morse code. A Last Call for a Silent Key will be made to honor him.
He loved sports, with baseball and football being his favorites, but the St. Louis Cardinals were his very favorite team. He could recall stats back to when he was in grade school and would take the city bus to games. He also loved anything that had to do with Route 66, since it mentioned his favorite places, St. Louis, Lebanon, Joplin, Tulsa, and Amarillo. He also loved animals. He was a very good bowler and enjoyed the friends he made in leagues over the years. He made friends wherever he went including two of his favorite restaurants, Pizza Inn and McDonalds on Main Street, Joplin. He considered these more than casual encounters; they were truly special in his life.
John was also actively involved with his church, Park Plaza Christian Church, where prior to his passing, he was the longest term member, joining in the early 60’s with his wife, Betty.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Betty Jo Greenwood Tudenham, who passed away in 2015. He has also lost many special friends, distant relatives that he kept in contact with, and in-laws in the last few years.
Survivors include his daughter, Sherrie Waterman and husband Tim of Joplin; stepdaughter, Theresa Darlene King and husband Bill of Carl Junction; grandchildren, Summer Cole and husband Derek, Corey Waterman and wife Danielle, Sarah Fuller and husband Kelvin all of Joplin, and Justin King of Granby, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Jordan Berry, Emily Cole, Lexi King, Katie Carter, and Baylee King; and his beloved in-law family, the Greenwoods.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor B.A. Austin officiating. Interment will follow in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with family serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Park Plaza Christian Church or the Joplin Humane Society.
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