Rudolph Harold Bedsaul, 88, of Salem, passed away Monday, November 3, 2014.

He was born in Pulaski, a son of the late C. Curren Bedsaul and Bessie Walker Bedsaul and had been an area resident most of his life. He studied engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and served in the US Army as a tank driver during World War II. He was employed for many years as a draftsman in the bridge department at Norfolk & Southern prior to retiring and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Rudy enjoyed playing golf, volleyball, hiking, rock hunting, farming and raising cattle. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Marie Smith Bedsaul, who passed away in 2012, a daughter, Sharon Bedsaul Stone, one brother and five sisters.

A loving, kind and caring husband , father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he is survived by two daughters, Kathy Mullins and her husband Kerry, and Joann Bedsaul; a brother, Virgil Bedsaul; three grandchildren, Maria Stone Bjorn and her husband Matt, Katherine E. Mullins, and Christopher Mullins, as well as two great-grandchildren, Madelyn Renee and Tamsyn Marie Bjorn.

He loved life and never met a stranger, and will be remembered for his sparkling eyes and sense of mischief. The family would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere thanks to his caregiver, Randy Rickman, and to the staff of Hatcher’s Helping Hands, most especially Donna, Crystal, Rob and Crystal

Funeral services will be held at 1PM, Thursday, November 6, 2014 at the chapel of John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem. Dr. Jeff Scott will officiate. Burial will follow at Cedar Lawn Burial Park with military honors being afforded by members of the Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7PM Wednesday, (today) at the funeral home. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.