MARCH 27, 1938 – OCTOBER 5, 2026
In the Care of Laird Funeral Home
Dr. Franklin Joe Rude, age 88, passed away at Nacogdoches Medical Center on 10/5/2026 after a brief illness. He was born in Boston to Dr. Joe C. Rude and Eleonore Wallenfels Rude. The family had several moves as a result of his father’s career and WWII, finally settling in Austin, TX. He graduated from Austin High School and went to Rice University, where he graduated in 1961 with a degree in biology. From there, he went to the University of Texas Medical Branch to study medicine, graduating in 1965. He was a member of the Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity and met a vivacious Irish nurse named Phillis Pearson at a party hosted by the parents of a fraternity brother. When he found out she loved dancing, he immediately signed up for lessons at Arthur Murray. Phillis’s two requests were that they marry in her parents’ village of Dunlavin, Ireland and that he live with her family for a month beforehand so they could get to know him. He didn’t hesitate a moment and they were married for over 61 years.
After the honeymoon in Ireland, they moved to Denver, Colorado for his pathology internship. He completed fellowships in pathology and neuropathology in Charlottesville, Virginia and their oldest daughter Brenda was born there. He was in the Army medical corps during the Vietnam War and was stationed first at Tripler Hospital in Honolulu, where second daughter Kelly was born and he completed his residency in pathology. From there, the Army moved the family to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where son Malcolm was born. After finishing his military service and a few more moves, he took over the pathology practice at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and a couple of years later, youngest daughter Karen was born. He retired in 2004 after almost 30 years with NMH.
He was a prolific reader and book collector. There was hardly a period of human history that he had not studied in depth and could discuss at length. He was an avid bicyclist for many decades. He loved living at Lake Nacogdoches after retirement, where he could swim, sail and ski. More recently, he was a familiar sight on the lake in his canoe, which he had fitted to operate as a rowboat. Family was extremely important and he was proud of his four children and all ten of his grandchildren. He was happy to see many of the grandchildren married in the past two years. He and Phillis enjoyed many trips back and forth to Ireland and England to see family. They also took many memorable trips with the Traveling Aggies to Russia, China, and Africa and also enjoyed going to Italy, New Zealand and Australia. He made many dear friends through medicine, living at the lake and playing bridge.
He is survived by his wife Phillis, children Brenda Moyes (husband Howard), Kelly Gilliland (husband Derek), Malcolm Rude (wife Stacie), daughter Karen, sisters Eleanor Rude Kreneck and Elizabeth Rude Buell, brother Joe C. Rude (wife Carolyn) and his ten grandchildren. The family is extremely grateful to all of their friends and neighbors, as well as the staff of Nacogdoches Medical Center.
There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, November 28 at the Fredonia Hotel from 2-4 PM.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Franklin Joe Rude, please visit Laird Funeral Home’s floral store.