Douglas Worth Duderstadt passed away early January 2, 2016 at Emory St Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, surrounded by his family. He was 81 years old. After a courageous battle, Worth succumbed to complications related to recent heart surgery.
Worth was born in Kerrville, December 2, 1934 to parents Douglas Wooten Duderstadt and Edna Bea Duderstadt. His early years were spent growing up on the family ranches in the Harper area, attending elementary and high school in Harper.
With a curious and keen intellect from an early age, Worth liked to read about and experiment with electrical systems and chemistry, as well as helping his dad with ranching projects. While in school he raised show sheep for county fairs several years, one year winning Grand Champion at the Junction Stock Show.
Worth also played basketball and football on the Harper High School teams, and began to develop a lifelong interest and hobby playing the guitar and keyboards.
Recognizing his interests and talents, Worth's parents encouraged him to pursue opportunities beyond ranching. To that end, he attended Tivy High School in Kerrville for his senior year, living with his aunt and uncle there, and graduating in 1953. After high school, Worth spent the summer of 1953 studying physics and advanced math at Schreiner Institute. With that deliberate preparation, and based on excellent test results, Worth earned a Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Texas. During high school summers, he stayed with his aunt and uncle in Jourdanton, working in his uncle's oilfield service company. On those jobs, he learned skills that he would recall and use many years later.
At the University, Worth juggled the busy schedules of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity activities, ROTC responsibilities, and studies of Physics. During summers, he took Naval ROTC cruises to far away ports including Portugal, France, Germany, and Sweden.
On June 1, 1957, Worth graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in Physics, was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy, and was married to Cherrie Parker, also of Harper. What a day that was! He and Cherrie had known each other since 2nd grade at Harper Elementary School. They soon headed to San Diego, California where Worth was based for 3 years during his naval service. Worth sailed on a Destroyer, the Boyd DD 554, cruising the Pacific and stopping at ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Worth completed his naval service as Chief Engineering Officer of the BOYD, and was honorably discharged. Worth's travels away from home, along with his navy service, instilled a lifelong passion to learn about and travel to other places.
Worth and Cherrie also started their family while in San Diego; their first daughter, Suzanne, was born in March of 1958. Their second daughter, Rebecca, was born December, 1962.
Following completion of naval service, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where Worth began a long civilian career with TRACOR, primarily working with development of Sonar systems. In that role, he also enjoyed periodic business travels, including occasional submarine trials of new sonar systems. When possible, Cherrie and the girls would join him for a trip. While living in Austin and raising their family, Worth and Cherrie were active with ballroom dancing and related social activities.
After 22 years in Austin, with the daughters grown and married, Worth retired from TRACOR, and he and Cherrie moved to a family ranch near Harper, where they had planned and built their home on a hill. There, they enjoyed renewed relationships with childhood friends and the extended family members in the area. Worth raised cattle and goats, and in time returned to work: initially for Posso Manufacturing in Kerrville, then later at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville. In 2007, while living in Kerrville, Worth and Cherrie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large group of friends and family. Later in 2007 Worth and Cherrie moved to the Woodlands Texas, north of Houston, to be near Suzanne's family. Cherrie passed away in 2013, after 56 years of marriage.
After renewing their high school friendship, Worth married Anna Beth Felner (nee Hardy) in March, 2014. Beth had grown up in Kerrville, and they had known each other during High School. Beth's husband of many years had also recently passed away. Worth moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia (near Atlanta), where Beth had lived for 40 years. With encouragement and support from Beth, he continued his interests in music and reading, and was so happy to embrace Beth's family as a new part of his family. Worth and Beth were also able to travel together to visit family, and even took a cruise up the Pacific coast to Alaska. They were planning yet another trip up the Columbia River in the fall of 2015. That trip had to be cancelled when his surgery was scheduled.
Worth is survived by his wife Anna Beth Duderstadt of Stone Mountain, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Bill Sullivan of the Woodlands, Texas; and daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Crossley Taylor and Michael Taylor of Round Rock, Texas. He is survived by 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children. Grandchildren and great grand-children are Michael Sullivan (married to Lauren Sullivan, great-granddaughter Caroline), Lisa Gwaltney (married to Tom Gwaltney, great-granddaughters Harper Mae and Zoe True), Meredith Crossley, Branson Crossley, and Garrett Crossley.
Worth is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Vernon Fritze of San Angelo, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Dolores and Carl Borchers of Katy, Texas; and their children and grandchildren. Worth's extended family through his marriage with Beth includes Ellen and Duncan Buoyer, Steven Felner, niece Stephanie Nordmann, nephews Julian Hardy and Christian Hardy, and 7 grandchildren.
Worth will always be remembered by his family and friends as loyal, thoughtful, devoted and compassionate. He was known as a faithful believer that Jesus was Lord and his savior. His passions and legacy of kindness, curiosity, travel, and musical interests will survive through all that have known and loved him.
Memorial donations can be made to the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS (84 N. Ranch Road 783, Harper, Texas 78631), or the Harper United Methodist Church (23305 Hwy 290, Harper, Tx 78631).
Source: Mason Funeral Home, Mason, TX
Worth was born in Kerrville, December 2, 1934 to parents Douglas Wooten Duderstadt and Edna Bea Duderstadt. His early years were spent growing up on the family ranches in the Harper area, attending elementary and high school in Harper.
With a curious and keen intellect from an early age, Worth liked to read about and experiment with electrical systems and chemistry, as well as helping his dad with ranching projects. While in school he raised show sheep for county fairs several years, one year winning Grand Champion at the Junction Stock Show.
Worth also played basketball and football on the Harper High School teams, and began to develop a lifelong interest and hobby playing the guitar and keyboards.
Recognizing his interests and talents, Worth's parents encouraged him to pursue opportunities beyond ranching. To that end, he attended Tivy High School in Kerrville for his senior year, living with his aunt and uncle there, and graduating in 1953. After high school, Worth spent the summer of 1953 studying physics and advanced math at Schreiner Institute. With that deliberate preparation, and based on excellent test results, Worth earned a Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Texas. During high school summers, he stayed with his aunt and uncle in Jourdanton, working in his uncle's oilfield service company. On those jobs, he learned skills that he would recall and use many years later.
At the University, Worth juggled the busy schedules of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity activities, ROTC responsibilities, and studies of Physics. During summers, he took Naval ROTC cruises to far away ports including Portugal, France, Germany, and Sweden.
On June 1, 1957, Worth graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in Physics, was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy, and was married to Cherrie Parker, also of Harper. What a day that was! He and Cherrie had known each other since 2nd grade at Harper Elementary School. They soon headed to San Diego, California where Worth was based for 3 years during his naval service. Worth sailed on a Destroyer, the Boyd DD 554, cruising the Pacific and stopping at ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Worth completed his naval service as Chief Engineering Officer of the BOYD, and was honorably discharged. Worth's travels away from home, along with his navy service, instilled a lifelong passion to learn about and travel to other places.
Worth and Cherrie also started their family while in San Diego; their first daughter, Suzanne, was born in March of 1958. Their second daughter, Rebecca, was born December, 1962.
Following completion of naval service, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where Worth began a long civilian career with TRACOR, primarily working with development of Sonar systems. In that role, he also enjoyed periodic business travels, including occasional submarine trials of new sonar systems. When possible, Cherrie and the girls would join him for a trip. While living in Austin and raising their family, Worth and Cherrie were active with ballroom dancing and related social activities.
After 22 years in Austin, with the daughters grown and married, Worth retired from TRACOR, and he and Cherrie moved to a family ranch near Harper, where they had planned and built their home on a hill. There, they enjoyed renewed relationships with childhood friends and the extended family members in the area. Worth raised cattle and goats, and in time returned to work: initially for Posso Manufacturing in Kerrville, then later at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville. In 2007, while living in Kerrville, Worth and Cherrie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large group of friends and family. Later in 2007 Worth and Cherrie moved to the Woodlands Texas, north of Houston, to be near Suzanne's family. Cherrie passed away in 2013, after 56 years of marriage.
After renewing their high school friendship, Worth married Anna Beth Felner (nee Hardy) in March, 2014. Beth had grown up in Kerrville, and they had known each other during High School. Beth's husband of many years had also recently passed away. Worth moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia (near Atlanta), where Beth had lived for 40 years. With encouragement and support from Beth, he continued his interests in music and reading, and was so happy to embrace Beth's family as a new part of his family. Worth and Beth were also able to travel together to visit family, and even took a cruise up the Pacific coast to Alaska. They were planning yet another trip up the Columbia River in the fall of 2015. That trip had to be cancelled when his surgery was scheduled.
Worth is survived by his wife Anna Beth Duderstadt of Stone Mountain, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Bill Sullivan of the Woodlands, Texas; and daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Crossley Taylor and Michael Taylor of Round Rock, Texas. He is survived by 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children. Grandchildren and great grand-children are Michael Sullivan (married to Lauren Sullivan, great-granddaughter Caroline), Lisa Gwaltney (married to Tom Gwaltney, great-granddaughters Harper Mae and Zoe True), Meredith Crossley, Branson Crossley, and Garrett Crossley.
Worth is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Vernon Fritze of San Angelo, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Dolores and Carl Borchers of Katy, Texas; and their children and grandchildren. Worth's extended family through his marriage with Beth includes Ellen and Duncan Buoyer, Steven Felner, niece Stephanie Nordmann, nephews Julian Hardy and Christian Hardy, and 7 grandchildren.
Worth will always be remembered by his family and friends as loyal, thoughtful, devoted and compassionate. He was known as a faithful believer that Jesus was Lord and his savior. His passions and legacy of kindness, curiosity, travel, and musical interests will survive through all that have known and loved him.
Memorial donations can be made to the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS (84 N. Ranch Road 783, Harper, Texas 78631), or the Harper United Methodist Church (23305 Hwy 290, Harper, Tx 78631).
Source: Mason Funeral Home, Mason, TX
Douglas Worth Duderstadt passed away early January 2, 2016 at Emory St Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, surrounded by his family. He was 81 years old. After a courageous battle, Worth succumbed to complications related to recent heart surgery.
Worth was born in Kerrville, December 2, 1934 to parents Douglas Wooten Duderstadt and Edna Bea Duderstadt. His early years were spent growing up on the family ranches in the Harper area, attending elementary and high school in Harper.
With a curious and keen intellect from an early age, Worth liked to read about and experiment with electrical systems and chemistry, as well as helping his dad with ranching projects. While in school he raised show sheep for county fairs several years, one year winning Grand Champion at the Junction Stock Show.
Worth also played basketball and football on the Harper High School teams, and began to develop a lifelong interest and hobby playing the guitar and keyboards.
Recognizing his interests and talents, Worth's parents encouraged him to pursue opportunities beyond ranching. To that end, he attended Tivy High School in Kerrville for his senior year, living with his aunt and uncle there, and graduating in 1953. After high school, Worth spent the summer of 1953 studying physics and advanced math at Schreiner Institute. With that deliberate preparation, and based on excellent test results, Worth earned a Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Texas. During high school summers, he stayed with his aunt and uncle in Jourdanton, working in his uncle's oilfield service company. On those jobs, he learned skills that he would recall and use many years later.
At the University, Worth juggled the busy schedules of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity activities, ROTC responsibilities, and studies of Physics. During summers, he took Naval ROTC cruises to far away ports including Portugal, France, Germany, and Sweden.
On June 1, 1957, Worth graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in Physics, was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy, and was married to Cherrie Parker, also of Harper. What a day that was! He and Cherrie had known each other since 2nd grade at Harper Elementary School. They soon headed to San Diego, California where Worth was based for 3 years during his naval service. Worth sailed on a Destroyer, the Boyd DD 554, cruising the Pacific and stopping at ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Worth completed his naval service as Chief Engineering Officer of the BOYD, and was honorably discharged. Worth's travels away from home, along with his navy service, instilled a lifelong passion to learn about and travel to other places.
Worth and Cherrie also started their family while in San Diego; their first daughter, Suzanne, was born in March of 1958. Their second daughter, Rebecca, was born December, 1962.
Following completion of naval service, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where Worth began a long civilian career with TRACOR, primarily working with development of Sonar systems. In that role, he also enjoyed periodic business travels, including occasional submarine trials of new sonar systems. When possible, Cherrie and the girls would join him for a trip. While living in Austin and raising their family, Worth and Cherrie were active with ballroom dancing and related social activities.
After 22 years in Austin, with the daughters grown and married, Worth retired from TRACOR, and he and Cherrie moved to a family ranch near Harper, where they had planned and built their home on a hill. There, they enjoyed renewed relationships with childhood friends and the extended family members in the area. Worth raised cattle and goats, and in time returned to work: initially for Posso Manufacturing in Kerrville, then later at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville. In 2007, while living in Kerrville, Worth and Cherrie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large group of friends and family. Later in 2007 Worth and Cherrie moved to the Woodlands Texas, north of Houston, to be near Suzanne's family. Cherrie passed away in 2013, after 56 years of marriage.
After renewing their high school friendship, Worth married Anna Beth Felner (nee Hardy) in March, 2014. Beth had grown up in Kerrville, and they had known each other during High School. Beth's husband of many years had also recently passed away. Worth moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia (near Atlanta), where Beth had lived for 40 years. With encouragement and support from Beth, he continued his interests in music and reading, and was so happy to embrace Beth's family as a new part of his family. Worth and Beth were also able to travel together to visit family, and even took a cruise up the Pacific coast to Alaska. They were planning yet another trip up the Columbia River in the fall of 2015. That trip had to be cancelled when his surgery was scheduled.
Worth is survived by his wife Anna Beth Duderstadt of Stone Mountain, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Bill Sullivan of the Woodlands, Texas; and daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Crossley Taylor and Michael Taylor of Round Rock, Texas. He is survived by 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children. Grandchildren and great grand-children are Michael Sullivan (married to Lauren Sullivan, great-granddaughter Caroline), Lisa Gwaltney (married to Tom Gwaltney, great-granddaughters Harper Mae and Zoe True), Meredith Crossley, Branson Crossley, and Garrett Crossley.
Worth is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Vernon Fritze of San Angelo, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Dolores and Carl Borchers of Katy, Texas; and their children and grandchildren. Worth's extended family through his marriage with Beth includes Ellen and Duncan Buoyer, Steven Felner, niece Stephanie Nordmann, nephews Julian Hardy and Christian Hardy, and 7 grandchildren.
Worth will always be remembered by his family and friends as loyal, thoughtful, devoted and compassionate. He was known as a faithful believer that Jesus was Lord and his savior. His passions and legacy of kindness, curiosity, travel, and musical interests will survive through all that have known and loved him.
Memorial donations can be made to the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS (84 N. Ranch Road 783, Harper, Texas 78631), or the Harper United Methodist Church (23305 Hwy 290, Harper, Tx 78631).
Source: Mason Funeral Home, Mason, TX
Worth was born in Kerrville, December 2, 1934 to parents Douglas Wooten Duderstadt and Edna Bea Duderstadt. His early years were spent growing up on the family ranches in the Harper area, attending elementary and high school in Harper.
With a curious and keen intellect from an early age, Worth liked to read about and experiment with electrical systems and chemistry, as well as helping his dad with ranching projects. While in school he raised show sheep for county fairs several years, one year winning Grand Champion at the Junction Stock Show.
Worth also played basketball and football on the Harper High School teams, and began to develop a lifelong interest and hobby playing the guitar and keyboards.
Recognizing his interests and talents, Worth's parents encouraged him to pursue opportunities beyond ranching. To that end, he attended Tivy High School in Kerrville for his senior year, living with his aunt and uncle there, and graduating in 1953. After high school, Worth spent the summer of 1953 studying physics and advanced math at Schreiner Institute. With that deliberate preparation, and based on excellent test results, Worth earned a Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Texas. During high school summers, he stayed with his aunt and uncle in Jourdanton, working in his uncle's oilfield service company. On those jobs, he learned skills that he would recall and use many years later.
At the University, Worth juggled the busy schedules of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity activities, ROTC responsibilities, and studies of Physics. During summers, he took Naval ROTC cruises to far away ports including Portugal, France, Germany, and Sweden.
On June 1, 1957, Worth graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in Physics, was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy, and was married to Cherrie Parker, also of Harper. What a day that was! He and Cherrie had known each other since 2nd grade at Harper Elementary School. They soon headed to San Diego, California where Worth was based for 3 years during his naval service. Worth sailed on a Destroyer, the Boyd DD 554, cruising the Pacific and stopping at ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Worth completed his naval service as Chief Engineering Officer of the BOYD, and was honorably discharged. Worth's travels away from home, along with his navy service, instilled a lifelong passion to learn about and travel to other places.
Worth and Cherrie also started their family while in San Diego; their first daughter, Suzanne, was born in March of 1958. Their second daughter, Rebecca, was born December, 1962.
Following completion of naval service, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where Worth began a long civilian career with TRACOR, primarily working with development of Sonar systems. In that role, he also enjoyed periodic business travels, including occasional submarine trials of new sonar systems. When possible, Cherrie and the girls would join him for a trip. While living in Austin and raising their family, Worth and Cherrie were active with ballroom dancing and related social activities.
After 22 years in Austin, with the daughters grown and married, Worth retired from TRACOR, and he and Cherrie moved to a family ranch near Harper, where they had planned and built their home on a hill. There, they enjoyed renewed relationships with childhood friends and the extended family members in the area. Worth raised cattle and goats, and in time returned to work: initially for Posso Manufacturing in Kerrville, then later at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville. In 2007, while living in Kerrville, Worth and Cherrie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large group of friends and family. Later in 2007 Worth and Cherrie moved to the Woodlands Texas, north of Houston, to be near Suzanne's family. Cherrie passed away in 2013, after 56 years of marriage.
After renewing their high school friendship, Worth married Anna Beth Felner (nee Hardy) in March, 2014. Beth had grown up in Kerrville, and they had known each other during High School. Beth's husband of many years had also recently passed away. Worth moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia (near Atlanta), where Beth had lived for 40 years. With encouragement and support from Beth, he continued his interests in music and reading, and was so happy to embrace Beth's family as a new part of his family. Worth and Beth were also able to travel together to visit family, and even took a cruise up the Pacific coast to Alaska. They were planning yet another trip up the Columbia River in the fall of 2015. That trip had to be cancelled when his surgery was scheduled.
Worth is survived by his wife Anna Beth Duderstadt of Stone Mountain, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Bill Sullivan of the Woodlands, Texas; and daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Crossley Taylor and Michael Taylor of Round Rock, Texas. He is survived by 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children. Grandchildren and great grand-children are Michael Sullivan (married to Lauren Sullivan, great-granddaughter Caroline), Lisa Gwaltney (married to Tom Gwaltney, great-granddaughters Harper Mae and Zoe True), Meredith Crossley, Branson Crossley, and Garrett Crossley.
Worth is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Vernon Fritze of San Angelo, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Dolores and Carl Borchers of Katy, Texas; and their children and grandchildren. Worth's extended family through his marriage with Beth includes Ellen and Duncan Buoyer, Steven Felner, niece Stephanie Nordmann, nephews Julian Hardy and Christian Hardy, and 7 grandchildren.
Worth will always be remembered by his family and friends as loyal, thoughtful, devoted and compassionate. He was known as a faithful believer that Jesus was Lord and his savior. His passions and legacy of kindness, curiosity, travel, and musical interests will survive through all that have known and loved him.
Memorial donations can be made to the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS (84 N. Ranch Road 783, Harper, Texas 78631), or the Harper United Methodist Church (23305 Hwy 290, Harper, Tx 78631).
Source: Mason Funeral Home, Mason, TX
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