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Jess "Jay" Floyd Dudley was born on January 29, 1921, to Floyd and Floy Dudley in Westville, Oklahoma. Following graduation from Westville High School, Jay was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942. There he served his country during World War II as an aircraft mechanic on the B-26 Marauder. He earned a bronze star for his involvement in the Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Buldge.
After the war, he rekindled a friendship with Winifred Whelchel and the two were married two weeks later. They moved to Tahlequah where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Education and Masters of Science degree in Teaching from Northeastern State University. His first job was as a principal at Cave Springs High School beginning in 1949. He continued to be a principal at Cave Springs until 1966 when he took a principal position in Nickerson, Kansas. He later served as a school administrator in Oilton, Oklahoma and Bentonville, Arkansas. Apart from being a principal, Jess loved gardening. He always left the backyard of his home more beautiful than when he arrived. He was also a carpenter, a fixerupper, but most of all, he was the greatest Papa to his 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He and his wife were very active in their lives. They volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels, Grace Hospice, the Baptist Ministry Center and Reaching Hands. Additionally, they loved attending all the sports events, school activities, concerts, church events, birthday parties, graduations and marriages they could. A grandchild never left the house without being told how he loved them and how beautiful or handsome they were. More than being an important person in so many lives, he was a Godly man. He was a faithful servant of God and lived by example a Godly life.
Jess was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob Dudley; sisters Oowala Blanton and Frances Alderson; son, Larry Dudley; grandson, Brandt Henderson.
He is survived by his wife, Winifred, of 70 years; two sons, Dayne and his wife Kristina and Wayne and his wife Tammy all of Tulsa; two daughters Jayne White and her husband Ron of Springfield, Mo. and Kelly Henderson and her husband Michael of Tulsa; grandchildren, Brandon White, Shannon McFadden, Kelsey Sanchez and her husband Luis, Courtney Dudley, Dino Henderson and his wife Lenore, Drew Henderson, Rhett A. Henderson, Christian Dudley, Olivia Dudley, McLain Dudley, and Molly Dudley; g reat-grandchildren, Jesse Henderson, Luke Henderson, Lennon Sanchez and Elijah Sanchez.
A memorial service will be held at Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, on Sunday, August 14, 3:00 pm. Immediately following the service will be a greeting time with the family in the adjoining Family Life Center. All are invited to share with us in this celebration of Jay's life. Visitation and viewing will be on Saturday, August 13, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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