Barbara Sue Rudd Atkinson passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2009, after a long illness.  Barbara was born on July 18, 1936 to Mary Alice Watson and Lewis Schumpert Rudd in Waskom, Texas.  She married John T. Atkinson Jr. on February 23, 1954, and after living in Waskom and Luling for several years, they moved to Odem in 1960.  Barbara and John T. resided on the Angelita Ranch until John T’s passing in 1986. During these years, Barbara became quite the ranch hand and horsewoman.

Barbara was a graduate of Waskom High School and Del Mar College.  After her daughters started school, Barbara began working as a teacher’s aide in the Odem Independent School District.  She then worked as a Postal Clerk in the Odem Post Office for twenty years and retired in 1996.  In 1987 Barbara became a volunteer for the Odem Volunteer Ambulance Service, and was certified as a trainer for the state.  She went on to complete the nursing program at Del Mar College and, at age 60, became licensed as a Registered Nurse.  She retired from the Post Office on a Friday and started her nursing career at Riverside Hospital in Corpus Christi the following Monday.  Barbara was a member of the First Baptist Church of Odem, and served many years on the Odem Public Library Board.

Barbara was a devoted wife and mother, and a proud, loving grandmother.  She is survived by her daughters Sharon (Larry) Walker, Joan (Steve) McKaughan, and Cynthia “Cindy” (Scott) Roper; three grandsons: John (Misty) Walker, Matthew and Michael McKaughan; two great-grandsons: Garrett and Sam Walker, all of Odem; a brother: Frankie (LaJuan) Rudd of Marshall; and sisters-in-law: Loretta Ducey and Amelia Porta of Gladewater, Willa Mae Chandler of Tuleta, and Sandy Rudd of Waskom; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, John T.; her mother and father, Mary and Lewis Rudd; her brother, Lewis Rudd; her mother and father-in-law, Viola and John T Atkinson; and sister-in-law, Jeanette Atkinson.

Visitation began Friday, April 17, 2009, at Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel in Sinton.  Family received guests from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  Services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009, 2:00 PM, at First Baptist Church in Odem.  A visitation will be held Monday, April 20, 2009, 10:00 to 11:00 AM, at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.  A graveside service will follow at 11:00 AM with interment at Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery in Gladewater.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Odem Public Library.

Services entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.