Loyd Nealon Dudley was born June 1, 1930, in Hillister, Texas to Gladys Mott and James Franklin Dudley. Loyd passed from this life Friday, March 10, 2006, at his home in Calera, Oklahoma, under the care of the wonderful people at the Hospice Center of Durant. Loyd attended Modern Barber College in Houston, Texas; Lamar State College in Beaumont, Texas; Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas; was a Century Club Member in Dallas, Texas; and a member of the National Association of Steel Pipe Distribution Inc. Loyd was a barber and dentist and a self-employed entrepreneur. He also raised quarter-horses. He was a man of many hats, and made good business contacts and friends in whatever he was doing at the time. He served his country in the U.S. Army from February 5, 1952 thru January 20, 1954. He served in the Korean War in a squadron that served north of the 38th parallel during that conflict. He was released in 1954 from active military service and transferred to Army Reserves to complete eight years of service. During his service he was awarded -- Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Loyd grew up in the Baptist Church and helped charter a Baptist church in Beaumont, Texas.
He was preceded in death his father, mother, and three brothers: Ralph, James, and Darwin.
Survivors include: his daughter Delinda Dudley of Dallas, TX; one brother, Pat Dudley and his Wife Sandy of Waurika, OK; two nieces, Rhonda Gustafson and Sarah Dudley; four nephews, Jimmy, Kent, Patrick (P.J.), and Michael Dudley; and a host of other family and friends that he loved dearly. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorial services for Loyd were at 3:00 PM, Friday, March 17, 2006, at the Dallas-Ft Worth National Cemetery with Jimmy Dudley and Mark Dyer officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Dudley, Kent Dudley, Patrick Dudley, Jerry Anderson, Eddie Harris and Danny Russell. Burial was under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika, Oklahoma. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or the American Lung Association.