Dudley Everson

Dudley Henry Everson | Visit Guest Book
EVERSON, DUDLEY HENRY, 94, of Henderson, Kentucky, died Thursday, December 15, 2011.

He was born on March 28, 1917, in Louisville. He was a hard-working, self-made man. He was a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks. When he was still in grade school he helped his mom support his family of four sisters and a brother. He sold papers and worked at Piggly Wiggly. He was a grocer and began his career as a meat manager for Kroger. He opened the first self-service meat market in the Louisville area.

When his brother became a prisoner of war in World War II he enlisted in the Marines and served in the Pacific from 1943-1945. He owned and operated two Food Basket grocery stores in Louisville and started the Gateway chain. He worked with Winn Dixie in New Orleans, LA for five years before moving to Henderson in 1963, finishing his career at Sureway Grocery Stores.

After almost 50 years of hard work, Dudley retired at an early age to build the Heritage Apartments and to develop many of the buildings in the area of Seventh and Green Streets in Henderson.

In addition to his successful career, Dudley Everson was a loyal public servant. He served on the Board of Trustees for Methodist Hospital for 35 years. He was active with the United Way and Hugh Edward Sandefur Training Center, and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1988, he was honored as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year. He helped organize Operation Community Pride's Christmas in the Park and designed and helped build the gazebo in Central Park. He participated in the Senior Olympics and was quite proud of his medals.

In 1970, he was appointed to the three-member board of the Henderson Utility Commission, where he served for 24 years overseeing the generating plants, transmission and distribution systems, and multi-million-dollar budgets.

He was a member of First Methodist Church and always enjoyed his Sunday school class. He attended church regularly for 45 years He enjoyed golfing, cooking, and playing pool. He spent a lot of time in his workshop. His specialty was bird houses, but he would customize whatever you wanted. He and his cronies were always willing to build or repair whatever the church, community or friends and family needed.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Catherine Bryant, Hazel Ann Torstrick, Ruth Watkins, and Adelaide Everson; and one brother, Charles Everson.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Betsy; his son, Gene Everson of Louisville; his daughter, Sally Wilkinson and her husband, Sully Dade of Boonville, IN; four grandchildren, Bob Everson, Laura Kocis and husband, Joe of Florida, Seth Wilkinson of Dallas, TX, and Ben Wilkinson and wife, Ellen of Indianapolis; three great-grandchildren, Jody and Michael Kocis and Bailey Marie Wilkinson.

Service will be at 4 p.m. CST Sunday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home, 604 Center Street, Henderson, KY 42420. The Reverend Willard Knipp and the Reverend David E. Latham will officiate. Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. CST Sunday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home. Louisville services will be 1 p.m. EST Monday at Louisville Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4400 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY. The Reverend Rebecca Curry will officiate. Louisville visitation will be from noon EST until service time Monday at Louisville Memorial Gardens Funeral H