John Rudge

John Francis Rudge, 80, of Cumming, died Monday afternoon, November 21, 2022, at his home following an extended illness.

John was born on April 9, 1942, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Edson Fieldhouse and Corrine Louise (Dodd) Rudge.

John was raised in East Palestine, Ohio, and graduated from East Palestine High School. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry and history from the College of Wooster. He graduated from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1969. He met his wife, Esther, and they were married on June 20, 1969. He enlisted in the army and was stationed at West Point, New York, where John worked as a dentist for the United States Military Academy. After John and Esther enjoyed living in West Point, they returned to Canfield, Ohio, where John ran a private dentistry practice for over thirty years.

John served as a dentist in the Air Force Reserves for 20 years. He served in Desert Storm in Arkansas as a dentist for the Air Force Reserves. Near the end of his military service, he worked as the commander of the medical corps at the Air Force Reserve Base in Vienna, Ohio. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with the Air Force Reserve.

John enjoyed traveling, snow skiing, music, gardening, boating, and waterskiing on Berlin Lake and Lake Lanier. He taught his children, grandchildren, and friends to waterski. He spent many hours completing genealogical research to fill in gaps in his family tree.

John was a member of the Canfield Presbyterian Church, where he served on the session and various committees. He later joined Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. In retirement, he served as an English as a Second Language teacher to adult students and enjoyed serving the community.

John is survived by his wife Esther; three children, Dr. Laura Peterson of Roswell, Georgia, Dr. Kristin Delahanty of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Brian Rudge of Dublin, Ohio. John also leaves his sister, Carol Ann Cicconetti of Portland, Oregon; his sister Janet Lynn Parker of Ashburn, Virginia; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The military honors will be completed in Canton, Georgia, at the Georgia National Cemetery. Funeral services will be held at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, on December 9, 2022, at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Pastor's Emergency Fund at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. https://onrealm.org/AlpharettaPres/-/form/give/memorial