James Osborne "Jim" Rudd (78) of Effingham

James Osborne "Jim" Rudd, 78, of Effingham died Wednesday afternoon, January 11, 2023.

The body will be cremated. Arrangements will be handled by Cremations of the Ozarks, Hollister, MO.

Jim was born on a Tuesday, March 7th, 1944. Jim grew up on the former Pitts Avenue (now Lakeshore Drive) in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Jim went to Andrew Jackson Grammar (that's what they called it in the old days) School. Jim was a graduate of DuPont High School, attended Middle Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University and graduated from The University of Tennessee. Jim had multiple engineering degrees in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Industrial Engineering. Jim also had a minor in Voice and a degree in photography (one of his many passions). Jim primarily practiced in Industrial Engineering, although he held various capacities in his career, such as Plant Manager, Maintenance Manager, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Industrial Engineering Manager, Senior Industrial Engineer, Consultant, Senior Lab Technician, Photographer and woodworker (in his own shop). Jim loved to make things for others, such as kitchen cabinets, picture frames (for his own photos), dining room tables, and benches, all types of furniture and whatever his children and grandchildren or neighbors desired. Jim built a lot of woodcraft for friends, neighbors and churches. Jim and his wife Kathy went on many photo shoots all over the country. Jim developed a love of photography while serving in the Army in Germany and traveling to various other countries. 

Jim was a former member of the Civitan Club, spokesman for Gideon's International, Minister of Music, Youth Leader, Sunday School Teacher and fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jim always had a great sense of humor, loved to pull pranks and loved life. 

Jim had a strong tie to his Christian heritage from his parents, Jim and Lorraine Rudd, and was saved at age 7 during a Vacation Bible School. Jim sang the Lord's Prayer at his high school graduation, sang "There She Is Miss Old Hickory Lake", was a guest soloist in the Ulm, Germany's Munster cathedral on Christmas Eve 1967, organized and had three different quartets (sang bass), was part of a duet with a former pastor who sang for many community events, organized and directed many church retreats for his own and other churches, revival soloist and music director, played in a jazz band, member of the Nashville Tennessean's All Star Chorus for four years, Sacred Harp singer and soloist for three years, was a long-distance runner for many years, photographed many weddings, senior pictures, pets, grandchildren and the like. Jim has a copyright on poems and is published in various books, authored a book "Just a Bug on the Windshield of Life" (which was written over a 10-year period with the purpose of witnessing to his heirs and was to be his legacy), wrote many manuals on packaging, labor standards, equipment specifications, designed equipment (with 3-D AutoCAD), printed out a great deal of objects on his 3-D printer, built plants (from the ground up), relocated many plants, automated plants, enjoyed gardening (in his middle years), enjoyed traveling and was a Christian counselor to many married couples and individuals (saving some from suicide and helping others to restore their marriages). Jim collected ball caps, Tom Clark's gnomes, knives, watches, matches, stamps, wood craft magazines, tape measures, swords, pens, calculators, jackets, National Geographic magazines, sweaters, guns (all types), and the like. Jim was a very organized individual and everything had a place. Jim's wife, Kathy, was the love and soulmate of his life. Although Jim had many pets none was more favored and loved than Wheatly, a hybrid Yo-chon (combination of a Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier), which Jim trained to perform more than 90 tricks, commands, words and such.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Alva Rudd, mother, Nettie Lorraine Huffines Rudd, grandmother, Lancella Azale Rudd, grandfather, John Osborne Rudd, aunt, Lillian Rudd, sister Joyce Hollingsworth, and a score more. 

Jim is survived by his wife Kathy, four children, Shawn Rudd, Mandy Rudd Szallar, Clint Rudd and Kelly Rudd Sapp, and 12 grandchildren, Isaiah Osborne Rudd, Noelle Rudd, Alley Szallar, McKenzie Szallar, Madison Szallar, Hailey Rudd, Hannah Rudd, Harley Rudd, Hunter Rudd, Tyler Cain, Trey Cain, and Madison Lynn Helms, along with many other individuals too numerous to include (meaning no disrespect). 

If anybody wonders where I'm going, I'm going up to be with my Lord. This was authored by Jim.