Rudin, E. Cordell 'Cork'

E. Cordell “Cork” Rudin, 79, husband, father, brother, and grandfather, passed Aug. 25, 2009, of a broken heart. He joined Patt, his wife of 50 years, in Heaven. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, where there will be Masonic and military rites. The Rev. Brenda Ehret will officiate. Inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathy (Chris) Pickering of Overland Park, Kan.; son, James (Trish) of Cedar Rapids; sister, Marilyn Chmelick; brother-in-law, Lenard (Dorothy) Armstrong; three granddaughters, Kaitlin Elizabeth, Margot Marie and Samantha Michelle Pickering; and one stepgrandson, Ben Lee Peckosh.

He was preceded in death by his wife; and a granddaughter, Savannah Lea Rudin.

Cordell was born Nov. 4, 1929, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Edward and Ivaloo Cordell Rudin. He attended the University of Iowa for 3 1/2 years before enlisting in the Air National Guard and serving active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a radio operator during the Korean War. He married Patt Armstrong on Oct. 6, 1951, in Cedar Rapids. She died Sept. 27, 2001.

Cordell was employed over 35 years with National Oats in various positions, including personnel, production supervisor, elevator foreman and retired as corporate sanitarian. As a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, he was an avid historian and collected especially stamps and license plates.

Cordell was a kind and gentle man with a gift for gab and could talk to anyone on any subject.

He led an active life and was a member in the following organizations: American Legion Post 217 in Atkins, VFW Post 788, and Mount Hermon Masonic Lodge 263. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and El Kahir Shrine, where he served on the director staff.

He had a great love for family and attended sporting events for his kids and grandchildren. “We will miss or dad, our friend. We will miss his quick wit and knack for using Corkisms.”

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.

Military rites by VFW Post 788.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Rudin family on the Web page, under obituaries.