Homer Wesley Rudd, 88, of Hereford, Texas passed away Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Hereford. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church of Hereford at 11:00 AM with Rev. Kevin Bushart officiating, burial to follow at Rest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery of Hereford. Services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, Texas. Family and friend visitation will be Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Homer Wesley Rudd – a gentle man. He was born August 25, 1930 in Springlake, Texas to Paul Everett Rudd and Fannie Mae Little Rudd. Homer married the love of his life, Vavia June Vandever Rudd on June 13, 1958 in Hereford, Texas. He is survived by his wife and children, David Gilmore and his wife Mary Ellen Gilmore of Bow, Washington; Colleen Robison and her husband, Jan Robison of Hereford, Texas; Rebecca Dockery and her husband, John Dockery, of Canberra, Australia; Elizabeth Moynihan and her husband, Steve Moynihan, of Del Rio, Texas; Wesley Rudd and his wife Janna Rudd, of Hereford, Texas; and Vaavia Edwards and her husband, Brian Edwards of Canyon, Texas. He had 19 grandchildren, Willow Kasbab and Angelica Callis; Aaron Robison, Owen Robison, Sean Robison, Stuart Robison, and Nolan Robison; Camille Dockery and Emily Dockery; Jessica Washer, Christopher Moynihan, Samuel Moynihan, Caleb Moynihan, and Marion Moynihan; Courtney Mayard, Reagan Rudd, and Brynna Rudd; Bryson Edwards and Beau Edwards. He had 10 great-grandchildren and 3 more on the way this fall. He also had numerous nieces, nephews and cousin, who all loved him. Homer was preceded in death by his parents and his two older brothers, Kenneth Rudd and Harold Rudd.

At the age of three, Homer moved from Springlake when his family drove their herd by horseback to their farm west of Hereford, which he loved so much. The farm had been broken from sod by his Grandfather, JB Little, using a horse and an eighteen inch walking plow. Being the youngest son, it was his role when his brothers went to the field to help his mom with the garden and chickens, and to herd the cattle in lieu of a fence to keep them from straying. He loved his livestock and knew each cow by their face as an individual and could recite each of their histories.

In 1948, Homer graduated from Hereford High School, being active in football and track and was named Mr. HHS his senior year. He attended Texas Tech on a track scholarship and played football and ran track and graduated in 1952. After graduation from Texas Tech, Homer joined the US Army during the Korean war, working with the missile program. His unit set up the first fully operational Nike missiles. He was very glad that one of his instructors was Werner Von Braun and wondered how he, a West Texas farm boy, got to be so lucky.

After his time in the Army, he returned to the farm and continued with his cattle until drought and health forced him to retire. During that time, Homer had periods of employment off of the farm teaching Algebra at La Plata Junior High, working at Ulysses Irrigation, Holly Sugar and Kimball Farm Service and at several area feedyards.

Those who knew him, knew him to be hard working, honest, slow to anger and quick with a smile. He was a good man. It was said of him, "For such a gentle man, he was a tough old bird." He seemed to be capable of doing almost anything thrown at him and could fix most things. He valued education and was the first in his family to attend college, encouraged hard work and education in his children, and found joy in simple things of life. He lived the golden rule and was an example of integrity, courtesy to others, and service. The last thing he would say to his children when they left home was to "remember who you are." There is nothing he loved more than an evening shared with his family and a freezer of homemade ice cream. He took in stray dogs and was always willing to help those who were broken down or stuck in the mud.

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com