Obituary of Rudolph J. Gaddis

Graveside services for Rudolph J. 'Rudy' Gaddis, 80, Kilgore, formerly of Tyler, are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 14, at the Overton City Cemetery, with the Reverend Jimmy Tucker officiating, under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mr. Gaddis died Saturday, November 11, 2006 in Kilgore. He was born September 3, 1926 in Ben Wheeler to the late Joe Marlin and Mattie Henry Gaddis. He was a life long resident of Smith County and served in the US Navy during WW II. He worked in dry wall construction and was a great country and western singer and song writer. He was very influential in the East Texas area for his Country and Western music and was a recording artist for country and western music, as well as country gospel. He hosted the Rudy Gaddis Lone Star Rangers television show which was the first country and western music television show to air on KLTV, Channel 7, Tyler. Some of his greatest hits were 'Old Eli' and "Garden of Roses'. He also played with the Fowler Play Boys and he was affiliated with the Assembly of God. He was preceded in death by his wife Paulette Gaddis June 29, 2006. He is survived by a daughter, Mattie Evelyn Fontaine, Nacogdoches; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Morgan and Katherine Miller, Troup, John and Sydney Gaddis, Overton, and Joe and Evelyn Taylor, Palestine; three sisters-in-law, Carolyn Rodgers, Abilene, Josephine Ivey, Sarasota, Florida, and Charlotte Holloway, Hobbs, New Mexico; great grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Nephews will be honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.