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Continued: Robert Curtis was the fifth child born to Willie and Velva Mae. Thefamily had left Florida and moved to Bragg City, Missouri. Robert,"Red, Carrot Top, Old Dad," was never afraid to try anything more thanonce, whether the experience was good or bad. Robert was amischievous, daring rascal all through his life.
I can recall Robert trying to out-race the police from onemunicipality across the boundaries of another and still getting aticket because he couldn't slow down fast enough; thumbing rides withstrangers; getting himself caught on fire, you name it and Robert hadtried it!
He'd give you the shirt off of his back if he hadn't lost it playingpoker or the horses, or he'd borrow your shirt, whatever the situationdemanded at the moment. Robert felt the same way about dog races andthe gambling tables at Reno or anywhere else.
I can also recall Mama trying to whip him with the ironing cord whenhe was a teenager. Robert would hold onto the cord, laugh in Mama'sface and then close the door and laugh at her. If she pursued him upthe stairs, he'd go into the bathroom and lock the door.
Robert and Virgil used to toss dishes and glasses from one to theother as they cleaned up the kitchen which would un-nerve Mama. ThenI recall Robert's eating habits - catsup, hot sauce and syrup on themost unusual things like eggs and salmon croquets. He also had a lovefor beans and eating everything with a spoon.
Robert attended school in Bragg City and St. Louis; that is most ofthe schools in St. Louis! He'd get thrown out of one for somemischievous prank and Mama would enroll him in another. Well, Robertgot tired of changing schools and just quit after a while.
Robert was always a hard worker and believed in changing jobs often.As a teenager, he sold newspapers, cut grass and made I.B.C. syrup forroot beer and other types of soda for Bud Taylor. Robert loved toplay cork ball too and usually the gang (Raymond Gaines, HaroldCunningham, Tommy and Curt Weathersby, Kenneth Moten, Raymond Raileyand Virgil) got together on Sunday afternoons for a game out onWhitney. Robert, both Raymonds, Tommy and Kenneth are all deceasednow.
Robert worked as a Stationary Engineer operating the heating/coolingplants for nearly any hospital, institution or housing complex thatyou can name in St. Louis. One year alone he had 13 such positions.Daddy used to really get after him. Can you imagine all of the W-2'she had to file with his tax form that year? Robert would also worktwo or three jobs, generally at the same time. He'd clock into onejob and go to another one and either go to sleep or cook his supperbefore moving on to the next job. Eventually, Robert established hisown heating and air conditioning business.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Hudson and Family received the following weddinginvitation, postmarked 27 Oct 1954. First Class Postage was $.03:
Wedding Announcement: "Mr. & Mrs. Wylie Scott request the honour ofyour presence at the marriage of their daughter Dolores to Mr. RobertCurtis Hudson on Sunday afternoon, the thirty first of October atthree o'clock at the home of the Bride 4220 Cote Brilliante Avenue,Saint Louis, Missouri."
Dolores "Scottie" Scott or "D", as most people know Dolores, who wasRobert's first wife and one of the most loving sister-in-laws orfriends one could have, is a delightful person with a very warm,outgoing personality. I don't believe that I've ever seen "D" angry.Dolores has a way with people no matter who they are or how old orgrouchy they may be. We could never understand how she put up withRobert's mischief as long as she did.
Richard Edward, named after Dolores's brother Richard and herbrother-in-law, Virgil Edward, or "Ricky" as we have called himthrough the years, overcame some medical crises and grew into astrong, personable young man. In 1999, Ricky completed studies forhis master's degree in the field of Human Resources.
Renard Everette is Robert and Dolores's second son and was given thenickname "Shadow" by his grandmother Velva Mae due to his closeassociation with Robert. Renard and Velva shared an old beagle houndby the name of Lucky. Lucky would periodically walk from Pagedale toFlorissant or vice versa when he tired of living conditions at oneresidence or the other.
Dupy's Camera Talk asked randomly selected individuals the followingquestion for the 24 Jan 1980 Edition of the St. Louis Argus Newspaper: "Are you in favor of the reinstatement of the military draft? Why orwhy not?
Robert Hudson responded: "I feel that it should be brought backimmediately. I have a 19-year-old son who could go right in. I'd beglad for him to go right in." He was referring to son Renard EverettHudson.
Robert and Dolores were divorced in 1979 and both re-married.
Robert was both a thorn and a jewel and we have all missed himtremendously from our lives. Sometimes it's hard to believe that he isnot here with us, but then I suppose he really is because we have somany fond memories of him.
Robert was cremated as his last wish. He said "he didn't want to getrained on or have people walking around over him". That's our Robert,our center spoke from the wheel. He is peacefully entombed atValhalla Mausoleum, where it's warm, dry and quiet and he gets flowerstwice a year!
Newspaper Obituary: Hudson, Robert Curtis, Jan 19, 1981, died at theLutheran Medical Center after a lingering illness (cancer); belovedhusband of Maggie Hudson, dear father of Richard, Renard and AngelaHudson, dear brother of Fred and Virgil Hudson, Frencella Bonner,Mable Blair, Opal Simms and Eloise Hunt, Dear grandfather andbrother-in-law.
In state Wed, 2 PM, Ellis West, 1905 Union. Funeral service Thurs, 7PM, Pleasant Green Baptist Church, 1221 West End. Cremation will takeplace at Valhalla Cemetery Fri morning. In lieu of flowers, donationto American Cancer Society or the Pleasant Green Baptist Church.
Funeral Program: Robert's Obituary read as follows: Robert CurtisHudson was born in Bragg City, Missouri November 8, 1934. He was thesixth child of Velva Mae (Morton) and Willie Hudson.
He attended St. Clement's Catholic School, Sumner High School andRankin Technical School.
Robert Curtis Hudson passed January 19, 1981 at Lutheran MedicalCenter after a long illness.
He is survived by his wife, Maggie, daughter, Angela Eleanor, son anddaughter-in-law, Richard and Angela of Myrtle beach, South Carolina,in the Armed Forces; a son Renard and one grandson, D'Eamon, of St.Louis, MO. Additionally, Mr. Hudson has four sisters, Mrs. FrencellaBonner, Mrs. Mable Blair, Mrs. Opal Simms and Mrs. Eloise Hunt, andtwo brothers, Fred and Virgil Hudson, all of St. Louis, Missouri.
Rev. Henry W. Berry, Jr.( brother of Chuck Berry), delivered theEulogy. The Smoot Family Singers provided music. Ellis Funeral Home,Inc., handled Robert's services. He was cremated on 23 Jan 1981 andentombed at Valhalla Mausoleum on 8 Jan 1998.
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