Warren
Warren Holmes “Pudden” Updike
Warren Holmes \"Pudden\" Updike, 87, of Bedford died peacefully on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at the Elks National Home. He was born on June 24, 1924 in Moneta, VA, son of the late Warren Livingston Updike and Lula Roberts Updike. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wray Holland Updike, his brother, Edwin Ashby Updike, a sister, Hilda Updike Ayers, and a son-in-law, James Ray \"Jim\" Melton.
He is survived by his daughter, Marsha Updike Melton of Bedford, VA, his grandchildren: Elizabeth Melton Brown and husband Roger of Bedford, VA, CPT G. Benjamin Melton, U.S. Army Special Forces, Fort Campbell, KY, and Thomas Lawson Melton of New York, NY, as well as a great-grandson, Alexander Holland Brown of Bedford, VA. Additionally, Pudden is survived by his two sisters, Elsie Updike Gillespie of Bedford, VA, and Kathryn Updike Schroder and husband Bill of Aurora, IL.
Pudden entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and served as Corporal in the 567th AAA AW (Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons) Battalion during World War II. On Christmas Eve 1944, he landed in Le Havre, France where he served under General George Patton\"™s Third Army. Pudden later led allied forces in the Battle of the Bulge in Wallonia, Belgium, and helped liberate the detainees of the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp, a Nazi forced-labor and concentration camp in Weimar, Germany. A plaque detailing the history of General Patton was dedicated in honor of Pudden at the National D-Day Memorial on November 27, 2009.
During Pudden\"™s life, he worked at Rubatex Corporation for 38 years where he was Supervisor of Quality Control. He was an avid farmer and found joy in spending time with his grandchildren on his farm in Bedford County. Pudden was a lifetime member of Pecks Baptist Church where he served as deacon, trustee, and on various committees. A Freemason of the Mentow Lodge # 180, Pudden was Secretary/Treasurer with over 50 years of faithful membership. He was also a loyal volunteer at the National D-Day Memorial for over a decade, where he offered his personal insights and real-life perspectives from his service in World War II. Pudden was dedicated to his faith, his family, and his friends. His laugh, endless stories, and love for the Bedford community will be missed by all.
The family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff at the Elks National Home for their exceptional care for Pudden over the past four years.
A celebration of Pudden\"™s life will be 2 PM, Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Peck\"™s Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Sheehan officiating. Interment will follow in Peck\"™s Baptist Church Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, PO Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523.
He is survived by his daughter, Marsha Updike Melton of Bedford, VA, his grandchildren: Elizabeth Melton Brown and husband Roger of Bedford, VA, CPT G. Benjamin Melton, U.S. Army Special Forces, Fort Campbell, KY, and Thomas Lawson Melton of New York, NY, as well as a great-grandson, Alexander Holland Brown of Bedford, VA. Additionally, Pudden is survived by his two sisters, Elsie Updike Gillespie of Bedford, VA, and Kathryn Updike Schroder and husband Bill of Aurora, IL.
Pudden entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and served as Corporal in the 567th AAA AW (Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons) Battalion during World War II. On Christmas Eve 1944, he landed in Le Havre, France where he served under General George Patton\"™s Third Army. Pudden later led allied forces in the Battle of the Bulge in Wallonia, Belgium, and helped liberate the detainees of the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp, a Nazi forced-labor and concentration camp in Weimar, Germany. A plaque detailing the history of General Patton was dedicated in honor of Pudden at the National D-Day Memorial on November 27, 2009.
During Pudden\"™s life, he worked at Rubatex Corporation for 38 years where he was Supervisor of Quality Control. He was an avid farmer and found joy in spending time with his grandchildren on his farm in Bedford County. Pudden was a lifetime member of Pecks Baptist Church where he served as deacon, trustee, and on various committees. A Freemason of the Mentow Lodge # 180, Pudden was Secretary/Treasurer with over 50 years of faithful membership. He was also a loyal volunteer at the National D-Day Memorial for over a decade, where he offered his personal insights and real-life perspectives from his service in World War II. Pudden was dedicated to his faith, his family, and his friends. His laugh, endless stories, and love for the Bedford community will be missed by all.
The family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff at the Elks National Home for their exceptional care for Pudden over the past four years.
A celebration of Pudden\"™s life will be 2 PM, Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Peck\"™s Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Sheehan officiating. Interment will follow in Peck\"™s Baptist Church Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, PO Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Warren Holmes “Pudden” Updike, please visit our flower store.
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