George Stephen 'Deacon' Rude

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[George Stephen "Deacon" Rude, 70, of Harco, passed away at 3:31 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born March 18, 1938, in Harrisburg to the late George Rude Sr. and Lois (Reynolds) Naugle of Harco. He is married to Carmen L. (Sjoquist) Rude of Harco.

He worked at Inland Steel in Hammond, Ind., then at the Naugles store in Harco for several years. He was a Baptist by faith. He loved riding his tractor and ATV with his little dog (Cole) and loved being outdoors.

Surviving is a son, Gregory Stephen Rude of Texas; a stepson, Dennis (Susan) Wheatley of Benton; four stepdaughters, Dianne (John) Madland of Park Ridge, Julie Eady of Chicago, Sandra Eady of Herrin and JoAnne Czart of West City; six stepgrandchildren; seven great-stepgrandchildren; and a cousin, Lois Reynolds of Harco.

Preceding him in death were his father; and a son, Roger Rude; and a stepson, Benjamin Wheatley.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at the Sloan Funeral Home in Galatia with visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. The Rev. Bob Workman will officiate with burial in the Brushy cemetery in Harco.