Elenore Levand Rudd

Rudd, Elenore Levand, involved, caring citizen and often described as “one of Wichitas last grand dames,” died peacefully July 25, 2007, in her home in Wichita, Kansas. Service 1:00 P.M., Sunday, July 29, Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Elenore was born October l5, l9l4 to Frank and Belle (Levand) Finkenstein in Los Angeles and was reared in Denver before moving to Wichita at the age of l9. Her Uncles, Louis, Max, and John Levand, owned and published the Wichita Beacon newspaper. Elenore worked there for a number of years as secretary to both the president and the publisher. She married Samuel E. Rudd on April l0, l938, at the Allis Hotel. In l949, Sam and Elenore founded Standard Mercantile (now Standard Beverage Corporation, a statewide distributor of spirits, wine, and beer) in which she took an active position. Congregation Emanu-El played an important role in her life, and she served in a variety of key posts and on numerous boards during several decades. One particular passion was the column she began and wrote for 30 years to keep people in the community in touch with each other. Education was another arena in which she devoted much of her time. She often said her role as a student was one of the most satisfying things she ever did for herself. To honor their Mothers passion for education and her philanthropic spirit, her children established the Elenore Rudd Scholarship Fund at Wichita State University. Elenores legacy is one of giving and caring for other people, and her charitable endeavors will long be felt and remembered. Her familys history and entrepreneurial passion was detailed in the 2002 book “Entrepreneurial Spirit in America.” She is survived by her son, Leslie Rudd (Susan) of Oakville, California; daughter Andrea Skibell (Dr. Richard) of Dallas, Texas; and sister Rita Diamond of Culver City, California. “Gram,” the family mentor and sage advisor, will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Reid Skibell, New York City, New York; Whitney Skibell, New York City, New York; and Samantha Rudd, Oakville, California; as well as numerous family and friends. In lieu of flowers (although she certainly loved them), memorials have been established with Elenore Rudd Student Support Service Fund, c/o WSU Foundation, Box 2, Wichita, KS, 67260, and Congregation Emanu-El, 7011 E Central Ave, Wichita, KS 67206. Elenore strongly believed that to know you were cared for by someone was one of lifes greatest giftsand she was right.