James Roy Dudley, Sr. of Millville, Florida went to be with the Lord Saturday, June 7, 2008. Mr. Dudley was 82 years old at the time of his passing. He passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family.

James, also known simply as "Dud" by many, was a lifelong resident of Millville, Florida. He was an extremely loving and proud brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bonnie Irene Dudley; father, Coy Roy Dudley; two brothers: Modell and Floyd Dudley; half sister, Lucille Price; his eldest son, James Dudley, Jr.; as well as by many other loved and respected individuals within his life.

He is survived by: his loving wife of 65 years, Frances Dudley; three children, Barbara Dudley Weeks, Greg Dudley, and Renee Bush; four grandchildren, Michelle Holland, Chris Bush, Amber Bush Purser, and Jonelle Dudley; three great-grandchildren, C.J., Abbigail, and Josh Bush; as well as a special niece, Betty Bowden, whom held a very dear place in his heart.

James Dudley, Sr. was a World War II Veteran, enlisting in the Navy at the age of 17, the day after the bombings on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. While serving in the United States Navy, he served on various naval ships stationed across the country. The position he was most proud of, though, during his service was acting as a medic aboard an air sea rescue plane. During one of his tours, his air sea rescue plane was shot down, he sustained injuries which resulted in having a metal plate placed in his head, he received numerous honors, and was then medically discharged from the Navy. He then went on to proudly work for the Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City, Florida. He retired from N.C.S.C. after 18 years of service, developed lasting and meaningful relationships with everyone he worked with, and received numerous awards and honors both throughout his employment as well as at the time of his retirement. In 2002, at the age of 75 years old, he was awarded an honorary high school diploma by the Commissioner of Education, Charlie Crist.

His love, smile, strong constitution, perseverance, and determination will be forever missed by his family, but held forever in our hearts. Words alone cannot truly express how much he will be missed, but we rest assured that he is forever with us from Heaven above. A very special and heartfelt "thank you" goes out especially to Dr. Dent, Dr. Evans, and Dr. Kessinger, as well as to all the wonderful nurses and health care professionals from Gentiva Home Health Care and Bay Medical Center. We are forever indebted to you, and will never forget your selfless acts of kindness.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2008 at Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10,2008 at Wilson Funeral Home with interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be: Christopher Bush, Daniel Bush, Ronnie Bush, Billy Miller, Johnny Penny, and Andrew Weeks. Honorary pallbearers include: Randall Barnhart, Gene Bruner, Pat Davis, Martin Earl Garrick, William E. (Bill) Holland III, and Dick Lovejoy.