Emily Ruth Rude

Rude, Emily Ruth (Henderson) 86, of Wichita, passed peacefully with family members around her Thursday morning by her farm at her son’s rural home near Rose Hill, Kansas. Emily was born October 24, 1933 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The only child of Jon Charles Henderson and Pearl Lillian (Broer) Henderson, they soon moved to Wichita, Kansas where she attended public schools, graduating from Wichita High School East in 1951. Emily attended Wichita (State) University and was active in college life where she pledged Chi Omega sorority, received several honors that included the Citizenship Award by the Association of University Woman and working for the Dean of Women while earning her bachelor’s degree in business. She was president of  “Wheaties”, the Woman’s Pep Club of Wichita University, as it was known then, traveling with the nationally third ranked basketball team in 1954 to the Big Apple to the National Invitational Tournament and appearing on “Toast of the Town”, the forerunner of the Ed Sullivan Show. While at college, Emily met a tall handsome Edward (Ed) Rude who was a music major at WU from Parsons, Kansas. They were married on May 27, 1956 and they moved to Elk City, Kansas, upon her husband accepting a music teaching position. They later moved back to Wichita where she and Ed were active members at First United Methodist Church and together, they raised six children. Emily provided loving leadership and commitment in her involvement with many community organizations that included Cub Scout den mother, P.E.O. Chapter I-EW member, her family education and church activities where Ed was minister of music. She even organized the family into a singing group known as the Rude Family Singers that performed for various scouting, community, and civic organizations, receiving honorariums that she managed to finance family vacations around the country. Music was a big part of Emily’s life with her husband, singing and playing piano, hand bells, helping with youth activities and encouraging others in the ministries of community churches with energy, a positive attitude and bright smile.  Her faith and faith community was very important to her as a member of First United Methodist Church and Double Ring Sunday school class, choir, teacher, sponsor, mentor and faithful member of the Quilters group. Emily’s professional business life included working at Boing Aircraft, Library Filmstrip center, preschool teacher, State Farm Insurance services, with agent Victor Wright and managing her family farm. Even after losing her beloved Edward to cancer in 2004, she continued to work hard to keep her extended family and friends close and loved. Emily provided end of life care at home for her father-in-law and her mother. Her heartfelt generous spirit and life habits included always sending cards and letters to express gratitude and well wishes that positively impacted many people throughout her life. Emily is survived by her children: Charles, Mark (Melany), Martin (Cheryl), Steven, Cheryl (Edwin) Ulanday, and Christa Vazeos, 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law Clifford (Inga) Hasenyager and sister-in-law Veda (Marvin) Orth. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Brettler. In consideration of the present pandemic directives, a brief family graveside service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, April 27, at Wichita Park Old Mission Cemetery, Pastor Cindy Watson officiating. A memorial service celebrating Emily’s life and faith will be scheduled once health directives are lifted in the coming months. Please notify Downing & Lahey East Mortuary if you would like to be notified when the future service is announced. However, a recording of the service is available to all loved ones. The recording can be viewed below. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church TV ministry and Choir fund, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.