Joyce Rudolph

Joyce Marie Benson, Barker, Rudolph

Joyce Marie Benson Rudolph, 85 of Safety Harbor, FL, formely of Louisville, KY. passed away Friday, July 11, 2014 peacefully, without pain, her family at her bedside and her favorite gospel music The Gaithers playing in her room.  

She was the daughter of Ruben Benson and Amelia Hanson Benson, born in Bates TWP in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, October 30, 1928.  In her early years while working at the Great Lakes Naval Base, she met and married her first husband Marine SGT. Robert L. Barker of Louisville, KY. and had three children.  In her later years while living in Louisville, she met Harold Rudolph and was married 33 years until his death in 2011.

She was a retired pharmacy technician of 27 years with Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY.  She adored her grandchildren, loved to laugh and enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays.  

She is survived by her sister Dorothy Benson Aregoni, two brothers Lloyd and Nels Benson; two daughters Pam (Harold) Childers of Pikeville, KY; Cindy (Wade) Fleming of Louisville, KY, a son Scott (Karen) Barker of Safety Harbor, FL., two step-daughters, Sherry (Bob) White of Louisville, KY. and Sandy (Jack) Allender of Ruskin, FL; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Thomas Rudolph (WWII Navy Veteran); her brother, Bob Benson; sister's , Lucille Benson Kinter and Donna Benson Gutshall.

Joyce was cremated with no formal funeral ceremony.  At an appropriate time her family will gather for a memorial service to be held in Louisville, KY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.