US Army veteran, devoted family man, committed Catholic

Robert “Bob” Raymond Rudolph died peacefully on February 28, comforted by his adoring wife and children.

He was a beloved husband to Dolores (nee Blaszczyk), loving father to Doug (wife Lorrie), Rob (wife Sonia), and Barbara (husband Rob); devoted brother to Violet; cherished grandfather to Dylan, Heather, Chelsea, Laura, Katie, Matthew, Kellie, Claire and Sophie; and adored great-grandfather to Henry and Ross.

Bob was born on January 30, 1936 in Farrell, Pennsylvania to parents Max and Barbara Rudolph. He graduated from Farrell High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Gannon University. While at Gannon, he was actively involved in student council, elected president of Delta Sigma Phi, Gamma Rho fraternity chapter, and selected by Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Upon graduating from Gannon, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and assigned to officers’ school in the Nike Missile program at Fort Bliss in Texas. Shortly thereafter, he married his college sweetheart and love of his life, Doree, of Erie, Pennsylvania, to whom he was married for 61 years.

After his military service, the family moved to Barberton, Ohio to join Procter & Gamble in its Charmin Paper Division. In 1969, Mr. Rudolph joined Welch’s Grape Juice, where he worked for 11 years and was eventually promoted to director of sales for the western United States.  

After Welch’s, he became a partner at a food brokerage company, and in retirement worked as a consultant to various food companies. He started in sales at the age of 14, was skilled at the profession, and highly regarded in his industry.

Throughout his life, Mr. Rudolph maintained a steadfast and committed devotion to his Catholic faith. He was a zealous member of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Claremont, where he held numerous council positions and served as both Eucharistic and hospitality minister.

He was also extremely active in the Knights of Columbus, which elected him grand knight of the council and faithful navigator for the Fourth Degree Assembly.

Mr. Rudolph always said his biggest accomplishment in life was being a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to an amazing family who loved him dearly. Those who knew him will remember his infectious laugh, dedication to his community and faith, his deeply held commitment to the values and morals that guided his life, and unconditional love for his family and friends, his family shared. 

“Bob was truly one-of-a-kind, and will be greatly missed by everyone fortunate enough to have been a part of his extraordinary life,” they added.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, 435 Berkeley Ave., Claremont. The mass will be preceded by a rosary. Burial will take place at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518.

Due to public health concerns regarding coronavirus, the date and time of the rosary and mass will be determined in the near future.