Clyde Laverne Ruddell

Clyde L. Ruddell, age 84 succumbed to cancer on Wednesday, 12/3/2008 at his home in Federal Way, WA. Clyde was born 3/14/1924 in Yakima, WA. His adoptive parents were Walter Clyde Ruddell and Florence (Young) Ruddell. Florence died shortly after Clyde was adopted and he spent his youth with the Ruddell family. Walter married Louise about 1936 and Clyde’s sister is Glennis. His birth parents were Pearl (Mieras) and Frank Meacham. While in junior high, Clyde found his brother, Cliff. They became best friends and through Cliff, Clyde formed relationships with his biological family. Clyde graduated from Yakima High School in 1943. He graduated early to join the Army. He served in the armed forces during World War II 1943-1946. He had several duty assignments in the Army. He guarded German prisoners of war in Texas, where he taught himself German. He was a combat engineer, a medic and typist in Europe. As he said, nothing and no one moved until he typed the orders out in triplicate. He served in two major European battles and was part of the American forces that liberated the concentration camp at Buchenwald. At discharge, he was assigned to the 1160th combat engineer group with the rank of Tec 5. After his military service, Clyde took advantage of the GI bill. He attended Yakima Community College and Central Washington College, graduating as a teacher in 1950. He taught junior high and high school in Shelton, WA 1951-1986. He primarily taught German and English. He was respected by his peers and made lasting relationships with his students. Mr. Ruddell was always a favorite teacher and received many awards over the years. He started a chess club and held sessions in his class room. Clyde had people come from out of town to challenge him to chess matches. He established the high school German Club. He lived and taught in Shelton for 35 years. After retirement, he moved to Federal Way, WA. He taught at Shoreline Community College and he was a substitute teacher for King County. Clyde enjoyed gardening, reading, writing stories and poetry, and he was an avid bowler. He enjoyed classical music and had an ear for modern music as well. He had a beautiful voice and loved to play the recorder. He enjoyed being in the woods, where he cut firewood and made fires. When the weather turned to fall, Clyde always had a fire in the fireplace. He loved being with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Clyde was described as the heart of his family. His sense of humor and story-telling was evident to even the casual acquaintance. With Clyde, people did not remain strangers. When King County began the Guardian ad Litem program, Clyde and Anne Ruddell were some of the county’s first GAL’s and set the standard for child advocacy. Clyde married Helen May Ponath 9/4/1948. They divorced in 1975 and Helen preceded Clyde in death 1/12/2003. Clyde married Anne Marie Stepanovich Anderson 1/31/1976. Anne preceded Clyde in death 7/7/2008. Survivors include: Alysa Ruddell and her husband, Majid Azzedine of Lakewood, WA and their son, Mostefa Robert (Bob) Ruddell and his wife, Brena of Selah, WA and their children David, Dustin, Casey, Bobye and Abbie Sue Vander Wal and her husband, Don of Shelton, WA and their children Jessica and Justin Cathy Ruddell of Irvine, CA and her children Jesse, Joshua and Jason Tom Brain and his son Max Duane Anderson and his wife, Barbara of Sunland, CA and their five children Glennis Wilson and her husband, Dee of Yakima, WA, Mildred Ruddell of Seattle, Clyde was blessed with 12 great-grandchildren Clyde was preceded in death by: Rick Ruddell, son Anne Marie Ruddell, wife Amber Ruddell, granddaughter Cliff Meacham, brother and his wife, Dorothy, Mikki Anderson Brain, and Dia Anderson. There will be a Celebration of Clyde’s life on Saturday, 12/13/2008 at 2 p.m. at Moriah Christian Center, 910 Dearborn Ave, Shelton, WA 98584. Pastor Ken Nielson will be officiating. Inurnment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA where Clyde will join his wife, Anne in their final resting place. Memorial donations can be sent to: The American Cancer Society St. Jude Hospital Children’s Hospital in Seattle