Elitha Recardo (Ginn) Dudley (1862-1902)

GINN, DUDLEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/30/2015 at 19:33:02

From Nevada Representative (front page) June 4, 1902

Mrs. H. P. Dudley Passes Away.

Our community was startled Friday morning by the word passed from 'phone to 'phone that Mrs. Dudley was dead. Few had known that she was ill. She had been an active participant in the prayer meeting one week before, had subsequently directed her household from her sick bed, and with her characteristic cheerfulness, even in suffering had allayed to almost the last the apprehensions of nearly all except her physicians. But a malady of considerable standing had suddenly developed complications producing rheumatism of the heart and they speeded the crisis no human skill could avert. Thursday night brought delirium interluded with sane words of comfort for those about to bereft, and in the morning she was goen. Household grief exclaimed, "How can we do without her!" Edna, Ruth, Merrill and baby Carroll were the children at home. Harlan, the eldest, still at Evanston and within a few days of his graduation from the preparatory department of the University, did not arrive till after the maternal lips were silent; but tender last messages awaited him, some having been spoken even during her delirium.

Mrs. Dudley, in the nearly two years of her residence in Nevada had won only esteem and regard. Devoted primarily to the interests of the home, her sympathy was still ready for whatever helped humanity, and her loss is deeply felt by the community.

THE OBSEQUIES

Funeral services were held at the church at eleven o'clock Sunday. Sympathy, both public and private, struggling for expression had decked the chancel and altar with emblems of purity and beauty as for a bridal, and tributes from the several parishes in which her home had been located swelled the multitude of floral offerings. The audience filled the church. Presiding Elder W. T. Smith conducted the services; old hymns which have carried comfort to generations were rendered gently by the choir; Rev. W. B. Sandford led in prayer choked with emotion; Rev. J. W. Henderson read scripture selections; and Elder Smith gave an address in which he portrayed the dear one's life as ideal, and as passing on forever, the soul retaining personality and, like Elijah's, preserving recognition and helpfulness for those in need of either. Other addresses exalting Mrs. Dudley's character and influence were made from the standpoint of intimate acquaintance by her brothers-in-law, Revs. A. E. Griffith and W. M. Dudley. We give in the main the address affording considerable data.

REV. A. E. GRIFFITH'S ADDRESS

"Recardo Ginn Dudley was born June 19, 1862, at Davenport, Iowa, and died at her parsonage home in Nevada, Iowa, May 30, 1902, lacking but twenty days of her fortieth birthday.

"When a child of seven she removed with her parents to Dexter, Iowa, where a year later, her mother died, and soon after the family removed to Crawford county, where she grew to womanhood and married the Rev. H. P. Dudley August 31, 1880. That fall they were sent to Mapleton, and for nearly twenty-two years she has shared the joys and trials, triumphs and hardships of the Methodist itinerancy. They have lived successively at Mapleton, Sargeant's Bluffs, Iowa, Evanston, Plato Center and Malta, Illinois, Storm Lake, North Des Moines, Council Bluffs, East Des Moines, Mt. Ayer and Nevada, Iowa. She has won friends everywhere in a general way, but especially of all vitally interested in the work of the Lord and the church.

"She was sell endowed by nature. Her father has filled the place of local preacher and class leader in the church; two of her brothers are pastors and a sister married a minister. The death of her mother, the invalid condition of her stepmother early through motherly responsibility upon her in caring for the younger brothers and sisters, and the sick and ushered her early into a life of motherly service. Her own children were welcomed and cared for with a loving devotion that is the charm of ideal motherhood. She was a woman of rare personal beauty-- full of cheer and of faith, but in the character, friendship, unselfish service, and maternal love, she was still more beautiful. She was not harmless because of weakness of negative character, but because actively dedicated to good works and filled perpetual good will. She was an artist, a musician, a poet by instinct. Some one has said it is better to be a madonna than than to paint the mother and child. Most people covet the skill to paint on canvas speaking ideals of truth and beauty, to chisel loveliness in marble, to write inspiring poetry and songs for the millions, ability to sway the multitude with eloquence and power, to write such books as will command attention and merit respect. But hers was an excellence beyond all this. Her life and character and service was that which the artist tries to indicate on canvas; the sculptor, to chisel in marble; the the poet, to put into verse; -- the sentiment which singers sing and the truth that authors put into books were hers. She was poet, musician and artist. She was pure and lofty in spirit and motive. She longed to embody the precepts of the gospel and walk in the light of the divine presence continually. Some school girls were expressing their ambitions--one desired attainments in literature, another in art, a third said, "I want to be so useful that people will love me and mourn for me after I am dead." The others responded, "Why, you are that already." Teachers at an institute in Missouri were asked to designate the greatest woman in history. Mary names were written--that of Frances Willard, Florence Nightingale and others. One thoughtful teacher designated the Missouri farmer's wife--the woman who meets nobly the duties, trials and responsibilities of wife, mother and homekeeper in humble life as the greatest woman in the world. The greatness of goodness is akin to the greatness of God. Renkey was such a woman a it is difficult to characterize soberly or speak of impartially. Domestic greatness--the gentle unselfish service of goodness and love--miss the glamor of the world and loud acclaim of the multitude; but are all the more fundamental, real and Christianlike and more missed when taken away. Reckey was converted to God early in life and in young womanhood entered into the life of trust. She told the Lord she would have to be content with a common Christian life. But those whom God hath cleansed are not counted to be 'common.' It is seldom given to mortals to live a more ideal life than was here. She died with the Lord's prayer on her lips, and has reached her transfiguration.

In attendance from out of town, besides Elder Smith, were Mrs. Dudley's father, Mr.s Thomas Ginn, and her sister, Miss Gertrude Ginn, both of Spencer; her brothers, Rev.'s F. A. Ginn of Arthur and F. W. Ginn of Estherville, also Mrs. F. W. Ginn; Mother J. E. Dudley and Rev. and Mrs. A. E. Griffith of Wesley church Des Moines; Rev. W. M. Dudley of Villisca, and Mrs. J. M. Robinson of Boone.

Friends called at the parsonage Sunday afternoon for a parting look and Monday morning the remains were taken to Des Moines. Accompanying the relatives were Messrs. J. F. Gillespie, E. S. Bamberger, Harry Ambrose, Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Burroughs, Mrs. Dr. Smith, Mrs. J. B. McCutchen and Miss Maud Ballou.

At the Griffith parsonage home, in East Des Moines the eldest of the Dudley brothers, M. L. Dudley of Chicago, joined the band of relatives, a brief service was held in which a host of Des Moines friends participated and then followed the interment in Woodland Cemetery."