Kenneth L. Hudson, 91, of Odon, Indiana went home to be with the Lord, on Friday, March 21, 2025 at Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center in Jasper. He was born on August 1, 1933, in Hendricksville, Indiana to Wendell and Pearl (Cochran) Hudson.
Kenny graduated from Solsberry High School in 1951. He attended Franklin College where he lettered in baseball and basketball and later graduated from Indiana University. He served two years of service in the US Army in Korea, Kenny got his first teaching and coaching job in Alfordsville. While there, he married the former Rotha M. Cox on April 11, 1958, and they have been married for sixty-six years. From Alfordsville there were teaching and coaching stops at Williams and St. John’s Loogootee. In 1962, the Hudsons moved to Odon. At Odon, Kenny coached B-team and junior high basketball as well as track and baseball. In 1967, he became principal at Odon and then two years later became Junior High Principal at newly formed North Daviess Junior and Senior High School. Later he became principal at Barr-Reeve High School and then guidance counselor and teacher at Worthington. After six years at Worthington, he became Greene County Superintendent, and in 1983, he returned to North Daviess becoming the grade school principal for Odon and Raglesville. He stayed in this position until his retirement in 1993.
Service has always been a priority for Hudson, during his time in education, Kenny served on the Indiana State Beta Club Council, the National Beta Club Council, and is also a past president of the National Beta Club. For several years, he coached and promoted Babe Ruth baseball, raising support from local merchants. Kenny and Rotha also made and sold snow cones at the local Little League games to raise funds for the Babe Ruth teams. In the fall, he enjoyed officiating high school football throughout the state.
During the summers, Kenny taught drivers education and was always busy around town mowing yards with his boys and roofing houses. He and Rotha also owned and managed several rentals in Odon.
Hudson also served on the draft board. He was a member of the Odon Town Board. In the fall of 1971, he ran for the office of State Representative. He served as the last Justice of the Peace for Odon. He was a member of the Lions Club for many years, and he was the Grand Marshall of the 2024 Old Settlers parade. He was a member of the Elnora American Legion Post #245 and Loogootee Christian Church. Faith was always important to Kenny. He preached, served as an elder and deacon and continued to teach a Sunday School class until his death.
Kenny and Rotha have two sons, David (Ruth) Hudson of Bloomington and Mark (Beth) Hudson of Greenwood; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Nelda (Bernard) Porter of Solsberry.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rex Hudson and Jack Hudson; sisters, Delores Schweer and Margie Ness.
Funeral services to honor the life of Kenny will be at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Loogootee Christian Church with Ed Frost officiating. Kenny will be laid to rest in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Odon.
Family and friends may call from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Monday, March 24 at the funeral home and from 11:00 AM until the time of service at 12:00 PM noon on Tuesday at the church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Meng Family Funeral Homes in Odon, Indiana. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.mengfuneralhome.com.
