Longtime civic, church leader Jane Ellen Rudy dies at 87
By GREG WILLIAMS
Published April 28, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Jane Ellen Rudy, whose father, Merle Rudy, is regarded as an architect of the modern Republican Party in Pinellas County, died Sunday (April 25, 2004) at Bayfront Medical Center. She was 87.
A civic and church leader, she was once community relations director of the Science Center of Pinellas County.
In 1973, she became the first woman elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church's Westminster Presbytery, the district authority of the denomination. At the time, the presbytery stretched from Inglis to Venice.
"She was such a wonderful lady. She held just about every office there was to hold," said Carol Lee Wathen, director of visitation and membership care at First Presbyterian Church.
She also was a member of the Museum of Fine Arts and its Stuart Society and helped raise money for the museum.
For 10 years she served on the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women. She also was president and national committeewoman of the Young Republican Federation of Florida in the early 1950s.
Born in Akron, Ohio, she came here with her parents in 1925. Her father helped build the Pinellas Republican Party into a powerhouse and was executive committee chairman from 1936 to 1948.
She graduated from St. Petersburg High School and St. Petersburg Junior College and attended the University of Michigan.
She worked for St. Petersburg Junior College and Pinellas County schools and also for the Pinellas County elections supervisor.
Survivors include two sisters, Dorothy Rudy Busby, Salisbury, N.C., and Martha Rudy Wallace of St. Petersburg; a niece; and eight nephews, including Thomas Rudy Wallace and Peter Rudy Wallace, both of St. Petersburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
There will be a private graveside service. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church.
Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
