Frederick L. Dudding

Frederick (Fred) L. Dudding, 84, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home on March 24, 2025, just a day after blowing out the candles to celebrate his 84th birthday with his family. He was a man who lived by logic and numbers, known and respected by most for his love of camping and the outdoors, his service to the community and church, and his pride and love for his family.

Born on March 23, 1941 to parents Lloy and Russie (Legg) Dudding, Fred grew up in Kanawha County, West Virginia and was always proud to be a Mountaineer. After graduating from Charleston High School in 1959, he headed to West Virginia University where he became the first generation of his family to attend college. While in Morgantown, he was a proud member and President of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Following college, he began what would become a 53 year career in financial services, focused primarily on life insurance, investments, retirement and estate planning. Over his career, he earned three national certifications (Chartered Life Underwriter, Registered Health Underwriter, and Chartered Financial Consultant) and received his Masters in Financial Services from the American College in 1984. After working across multiple agencies, including Mutual Benefit Life where he qualified for multiple Million Dollar Round Table awards, Fred struck out on his own in 1986 and started a new company, Compass Financial Directions, in 1998 before selling his business and retiring in 2014.

He married his first wife, Deborah (Gandee) Dudding, in 1967. They left their lives in West Virginia and moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1973. There, they raised their children, Sarah and Adam, first in Trotwood and then in Oakwood. In those early years, Fred proudly served as youth fellowship leader at Mt. Olive United Church of Christ, organizer and treasurer for various citizen action groups and political campaigns, pack leader and Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scouts, and program and group leader for Campfire Girls. He and his family spent most summer weekends camping, hiking, canoeing and fishing at one of his favorite places, a little cottage he purchased along the Little Miami River just outside Lebanon, Ohio. He called it “Renewal.”

Following Debbie’s untimely death from cancer in April 1999, Fred became a proud “preacher’s spouse” and stepfather to three, Julie, Darcy and Matt, when he married his second wife, Kay (Koepfgen) Davis-Dudding, in October 2000. Together, they spent much of their pre- and post-retirement free-time traveling and visiting family and friends. Putting more than 94K miles on their RV, Fred proudly spent at least one night in each of the 48 contiguous United States. They cruised to Alaska and Hawaii, went on safari in South Africa, visited locations important to their faith across Israel, Turkey and Greece, sheered sheep and toured castles in Scotland, and joined Adam's family for a tour throughout China, including a cruise down the Yangtze river, prior to visiting friends in Japan. And, every year during the last week of April, you could find them at their time-share on Hilton Head Island.

While he was active in business, Fred belonged to several professional and business organizations, including the Society of Financial Services Professionals (past President), National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and The Miami Valley Estate Planning Council (past President). Across the community, he shared his knowledge and gifts in many ways. He was a long-standing member of the Engineers Club of Dayton where he served as the Board of Governors President, a member of the City of Oakwood Budget Review Committee, a member and past President of the Oakwood City School District Business and Finance Advisory Council, and a member of Wright Brothers Memorial Library Citizens Advisory Board. He was Unit Commissioner, Wood Badge Course Director and Silver Beaver Distinguished Service Award winner with the Miami Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, active with the Miami Valley Orienteering Association and the Montgomery County (Five Rivers) Park District, led annual fishing clinics through Camp Pathways at Hospice of Dayton, and served as an ordained Deacon and former Stephen Minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Fred is survived by his wife Kay Davis-Dudding; children Sarah Callihan (Tom) and Adam Dudding (Julie Starr); stepchildren Julie Bossch (Milt), Darcy Day (David), and Matt Davis (Lorrie Newland); and grandchildren Will and Ben Callihan, Ellie and Ziggy Starr-Dudding, Marissa, Brandon, Zachary, and Ryan Bossch, Jay and Lexi Carr, and Landon Davis. He is also survived by his brother-in-law David Gandee; nephews Garrett Gandee (Liz) and Jeffrey Gandee (Marianne); cousin Ann Hoaglin (Tom), cousins-in-law Becky and Phyllis Fox and Roberta Kennedy (Ed), and other extended family members. Fred was proceeded in death by his first wife Debbie Dudding, cousin Jane Rechtenwald, his parents and in-laws, and other extended family members.

Fred’s family and friends will celebrate his life at Westminster Presbyterian Church (125 N. Wilkinson St., Dayton, Ohio 45402) on Saturday, May 31, 2025. The service will begin at 3:00 pm ET followed by a reception in the church’s Fellowship Hall.

For memorial gifts, please consider a donation to:

• Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, 7575 Paragon Rd., Dayton, OH 45459, or by visiting www.ohioshospice.org/give/. The support and care they showed Fred and his family during his final weeks enabled Fred to pass peacefully at home and on his own terms and his family will be forever grateful.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St., Dayton, OH 45402, or by visiting www.westminsterdayton.org/give.