On October 7, 2024, and in the words of the Masonic Order, Fred Baker Rudolph was called from labor and laid down his working tools. He was 85 years old. Baker was born in Coleman, Texas, at Overall Morris Memorial Hospital on April 23, 1939, to Fred B. Rudolph and Ima Baker Rudolph.
Baker graduated from Coleman High School in 1957. He attended The University of Texas at Austin where he pledged Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He transferred to and graduated from Baylor University in 1963 with a degree in political science. He began law school at Baylor where he was elected President of the Freshman Class, active on the Board of Governors and a member of the Lounge Law Staff.
Baker was a life-long Mason, and at age 21, he was one of the youngest to reach the 32nd degree Scottish Rite designation in Texas. He was a past master of the Coleman Masonic Lodge and held numerous offices during his more than 60-year Masonic life.
Baker met the love of his life, Joan Elizabeth Flack, while working in Austin as an insurance investigator. They married on November 21, 1970, in Houston, Texas. Baker and Joan settled in Austin, raising three children.
In 1980, Baker and Joan left rapidly growing Austin for life in Coleman where their children thrived. Baker and Joan joined St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and in the 1990s, Joan was selected by the bishop to become a Canon IX priest for the small mission church. Baker was a strong supporter and defender of her studies. She was ordained in 2000. Her death at age 56 from cancer in 2004 was devastating to the entire family and especially to Baker. He suffered her loss greatly and never remarried.
In his later years, Baker welcomed four grandsons into the family. His love of Texas history, politics and civics ran deep. He was a loyal Democrat his entire life and served as the Coleman County Democratic Chair for many years. He was a friend to all animals, and he often quoted his grandfather, Judge J.K. Baker, saying “I have little use for a man with no dogs and not much more for a man with only one!”
He is preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents F. B. and Ima, his sister Frances Lee Rudolph Galey and his niece Georgia Marie Galey. He is survived by his sister Jana Rudolph Fallin and husband David; children Jennifer Rudolph Mire and husband David; Ben Rudolph and wife Leeann, Patrick Rudolph and Sara Clyde. He has four grandsons: Burke Rudolph, Kirkland Rudolph, Ewan Rudolph and Gus Mire. He is also survived by his niece Lee Anna Galey; nephews Will Galey, Travis Galey and wife Mindy; Benjamin Fallin; Daniel Fallin, wife Jennifer and daughter Lilly.
Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23, in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, Coleman, with Rev. Richard Hetzel officiating. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Rudolph family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be offered to the Coleman Men’s Downtown Sunday School Class; P.O. Box 471, Coleman, Texas 76834.