Dayton McConnell Rudick, of Grove, Oklahoma, born on November 6, 1935 in Hanson, Oklahoma to Cornelius John (CJ) Rudick and Vera (Shorty) Ellis, passed from this life on November 2, 2026, just a few days short of his 91st birthday.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and then his wife, Bonnie Louise Jackson Rudick, and is survived by two brothers, Macon Rudick of Salt Like City, Utah and Royce Rudick of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, three children, Gary Duane Rudick of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Cathy Moore of Grove, Oklahoma and Mark Michael Rudick of Eucha, Oklahoma.

He grew up during the end of the Dust Bowl area, and had travelled the same path of hardship and courage as those who drove the road of the Grapes of Wrath. His family lived in the labor camps of the San Joaquin Valley in California until he developed a lung disease caused most likely by the severe dust and pesticides used during the 1940’s. That sickness forced the family to move to the Yakima Valley in Washington State, continuing the work of picking fruit and vegetables and living within company owned housing.

The family moved back to Hanson when he turned 13 and he went to high school at Central High School there until graduation.

He enrolled in Connors State College in Warner but love took his heart and he wed Bonnie Jackson from Sallisaw and Wild Horse Mountain who he shared life with for over 60 years. They first moved to Missouri where he tried his hand at department store management but found moving about was not his desire and he wanted to settle in a place where he could raise a family.

Dayton moved his family to the northeast Oklahoma area in 1959, specifically Jay and then later to Spavinaw, finding work with the State of Oklahoma where he ultimately retired as the County Administrator in Craig County for the Oklahoma Dept. of Health and Human Services. He then began a string of new adventures that included being a small business owner, restauant owner, truck driver, census taker, real estate agent and a human resource director for San Segal clothing in Salt Lake City, working with his brother, an experience he always looked back on fondly.

He grew up fishing, hunting and attending church, areas of his life he continued to be involved in until health and age took from him the opportunities for extra activities.

He leaves behind a legacy of love and adoration for his family which includes 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren (one great-great grandchild about to enter the world) and a host of family and friends who will miss him but rejoice in the knowledge of a happy reunion now taking place.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Worley Luginbuel Funeral Chapel in Grove. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, November 5, 2026, at New Hope Church. Interment will follow at Mose Ridge Cemetery in Topsy.