Rudolph Benard Tholen III (Rudy), 72, of Murphy, passed away Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.
Mr. Tholen was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a 32-degree mason and a member of the Scottish Rites.
He was born Nov. 3, 1947, in Houston, Texas. Later the family moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
After his military tour of duty, he began his career working with Southwestern Bell (AT&T) before moving on to various other companies (primarilly in the North Carolina/Georgia area) working in the telecommunication/fiber optics field as a project manager.
Devoted to a lifetime of learning his biggest love was teaching. He taught in the Dallas Community Junior College in Texas, Wake Community Junior College in Raleigh, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico and several other school districts in the North Carolina area as teacher/librarian before finishing at Hiwassee Dam High School.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph Benard Tholen II and Lorraine Rita (Ouellette) Tholen, and his brother, Larry.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carol (Gabriel) Tholen; Gary Tholen and wife Elaine of Canton, Texas; Fleurette Jackson and husband Otis of Norman, Okla., Remy Tholen and wife Ann of Allen, Texas; Yvonne Green and husband Kenny of Rattan, Okla.; and sister-in-law, Arlene Tholen of Hugo, Okla.; his sons, Richard Tholen of Durham, Rustin and daughter Roxane of DFW area in Texas; stepdaughter, Rachel Cangemi of Woodstock, Ga.; stepson, Christopher Hatfield of Jasper, Ga.; grandchildren, Dakota, Bryce and Zoe of North Carolina, Weston Hatfield of Georgia, Davynn Tholen of Texas and Sophia Tholen of Texas; included also are many nieces and nephews of Oklahoma and Texas.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Townson-Rose Funeral Home in Murphy. Due to Covid-19, the family asks that all who attend to please wear a mask.
The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Townson-Rose Funeral Home in Murphy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Rudolph’s memory to the local food bank at Food Distribution Center, Sparrow’s Nest, First Baptist Church, 517 Hiwassee St., Murphy, NC 28906.
You may send tributes to the family at townson-rose.com.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of all all arrangements.