Rudy Thomas Elam

Rudy Thomas Elam of Moore County, TN, passed away Monday, August 14, 2017, at the age of 87. Born in Bradford, TN on June 22, 1930, he was preceded in death by his parents: Bonds Elam and Mamie Baldridge Elam. Rudy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Holt Elam and their three children: daughter, Lorraine Carter (Ray); son, Les Elam (Melanie) and son, Mark Elam. Proud grandfather, he had 7 granddaughters and 8 great grandchildren: Elizabeth Pittman (Jeff) and sons, Cameron, Robert, Hunter and Cooper; Jessica Sazanov (Saz) and daughters, Chloe and Emma; Sarah Zerhusen (Matthew) and children, Carter and Riley; Katie Elam; Mary Beth Elam; Madison Elam and Ana Grace Elam. Rudy is also survived by a sister: Janace Lickman (George) of Mobile, AL, several nieces and a nephews. Rudy attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he met his wife. He graduated from Tennessee Tech with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. Rudy retired from the TN Army National Guard as a Colonel with 39 years duty. In 1980, while in the National Guard, he graduated from the Army War College in Carlisle, PA, receiving a Masters of Public Administration Degree from Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, PA. He worked at Arnold Center for 39 years as an Electrical and Systems Engineer. Rudy was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and served on a committee for lighting, helping to write a code manual that was specific to lighting. He also was a past president of the local IEEE Chapter. He was a devoted member for 58 years of Faith Lutheran Church in Tullahoma where he served as congregation president and an Elder for many years. Rudy was Chairman of the Moore County Election Commission and before that had been Chairman of the Moore County Republican party for several years. An avid runner, Rudy didn’t start running until the age of 46. He was the first person in the area to run the Boston Marathon – running it 4 times. He completed 49 marathons in all. He loved flying and became a private pilot. Rudy loved to travel and he travelled the world with Dot and his friends and family. He enjoyed family genealogy research. Rudy also researched Davy Crocket’s life and times in Tennessee and Texas. He loved to read books involving our Civil War heroes and was a member of the Sons of the Confederacy. He and Dot have always enjoyed entertaining and having family get–togethers at their barn home. Visitation for Mr. Elam will be held on Friday evening, August 18, from 5-8 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Tullahoma and on Saturday, August 19, from 11 a.m. to Noon with a Memorial Service to follow at the church. Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com

Rudy Thomas Elam

June 22, 1930 - August 14, 2017