Floyd Dudley

Floyd Alvis Dudley, 81, a lifelong resident of Petersburg, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at his residence. He was the son of the late William A. Dudley, Sr. and Annie Alvis Dudley. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and saw extensive combat action in the Pacific Theater. He received an honorable discharge at the end of the war and returned home to Petersburg. Floyd joined the Petersburg Fire Department on October 5, 1950. During his first 20-years he saw service as a firefighter. He went on to hold the positions of Engine Company Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Fire Chief and in 1979 he was promoted to the Chief of the Department. While Floyd excelled in all of his duties, his most noteworthy achievements were in the area of firefighter training and emergency operations command. In the Southside Areas, Floyd was one of the pioneers for the Commonwealth of Virginia's firefighter training program. As a Fire-Ground Commander his performance was second to none. His first tour of duty ended when he retired as Chief of the Department, October 8, 1980. In October 1995, Chief Floyd A. Dudley (Retired) was once again asked to serve his community. The Fire Department was in urgent need of an experience firefighter to assume the duty of the Department's logistics and stock control clerk. Chief Dudley proudly accepted the job and served devotedly until August 4, 2006. Mr. Dudley is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruby Doyle Dudley; sons, Floyd A. Dudley, Jr. of Sutherland and David W. Dudley and wife, Sharon of Waverly; granddaughter, Shannon N. Dudley of Petersburg; sisters, Evelyn Worley and husband, Donnie of Oklahoma City, OK and Margaret Denton and husband, Kenneth of Waynesboro, VA; brother, William A. Dudley and wife, Doris of Colonial Heights; and a faithful brother-in-law, Herman Doyle and wife, Virginia of Dinwiddie. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM Thursday at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Southlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Virginia, 7231 Forest Avenue, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23226. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .