Longwood University Athletics lost a great friend and supporter of the Lancers with the passing of Mr. Fred R. “Rudy” Gearheart on Sunday, September 21. Rudy served on the executive board of the Lancer Club fundraising organization, and has been a loyal fan and supporter of Longwood Athletics for over 30 years; serving as a color analyst for selected men’s basketball games in recent years as well. Mr. Gearheart passed away after spending the last three months in the hospital battling various complications resulting from his diagnosis last spring of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma - he was a young 67 years old. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Sept. 23, from 6-8 p.m. at the Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville with a graveside service on Wednesday, Sept. 24, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Westview Cemetery in Farmville.
Official Family Obituary
Fred Ruthford (Rudy) Gearheart Jr., 67, of Farmville, Va., passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He had been fighting Lymphoma for several months. Rudy was born in Gearheart, Ky., on March 29, 1941, and was the eldest child of Fred Ruthford and Faye Counts Gearheart. Rudy graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1959 where he lettered in track and basketball. He served in the United States Marine Corp and spent his working career in the finance and banking industry. He was still active in the mortgage business at the time of his death. Rudy is survived by his son, Fred (Ford) Ruthford III and his wife, Jennifer Turnbull Gearheart, and their children, Fred (Ace) Ruthford IV and Vivian Reeves Gearheart, of Farmville; and daughter, Madeline Faye's children, Ashley Faye and Emily Grace Mitchell, of Farmville. In addition, he is survived by his close companion, Ruth Gowin; former wife, Linda Beach Baldwin, of Keysville; sister, Madeline Marie Terry, of Greensboro, N.C.; brother, Rodney Rex and wife, Shirley Dulaney Gearheart, of Dublin, Va.; brother, Charles Edward and wife, Melody Williams Counts, of Meadowview, Va.; and parents, Cecil E. and Faye Counts, of Salem, Va. Rudy was preceded in death by his daughter, Madeline Faye Mitchell; his brother, Randolph Allen Gearheart; and his father, Fred Ruthford Gearheart. Our most sincere thanks and gratitude is extended to the many friends and family members who visited and supported Rudy during his illness...especially the staff, nurses, and doctors at Roanoke Memorial. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville. A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at Westview Cemetery in Farmville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Madeline's House in care of Puckett Funeral Home, 115 Covington Court, Farmville, Va. 23901 or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be sent to pfhinc@kinex.net.
