Rudelle “Rudy” Rubarth Connally

Rudelle Rubarth Connally “Rudy” age 88, died on February 27th, 2016 in Lancaster, California from natural causes. Rudy was a devout Catholic, loving and devoted wife and mother of seven children. A very intelligent woman, she was a member of MENSA International. She was an artist, technical illustrator, designer and configuration management manager. She worked for many companies including Washer Bros., General Dynamics, NASA, Flight Systems and Northrop Grumman.

Mrs. Connally is survived by six children: Mike Connally, Katy Walton, Patrick Connally, Mary Mondok, Susan Choate, and Tim Connally, along with her brother David Lee Rubarth. She has 17 grandchildren, along with 16 great-grandchildren with four more on the way. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Connally, her daughter Terri Connally, and her great-grandsons, Joseph Villavisencio and James Mondok.

Rudelle Connally was born to Alma Lou and Lee Rubarth in Fort Worth, Texas on January 28th, 1928. She grew up in Fort Worth with her parents and her aunts Florence and Lillian and grandmother Florence “Bubba” Vivion Netherton. She was raised by four strong witty ladies who molded her into a nurturing, willful, unbendable source of energy for all those who merely accepted her love and support.

Rudy met her husband-to-be 72 years ago just before he entered the Navy during World War II. She married him in November 1945. She and Charles with the entire family moved to Lancaster in the Spring of 1965.

Rudelle mainly worked in the aerospace industry on projects including the B-58 bomber, NASA lifting bodies, Canadair Challenger, F-5 Tiger II and B-2 Bomber. She retired from Northrop Grumman as the Palmdale Facility Configuration Management Manager in 1991. She was a talented sketch artist and loved to travel.

Mrs. Connally received her Bachelor’s of Management in 1973, with an English Minor, and Master’s of Management from Golden Gate University in 1975 with a 4.0 GPA, while working and raising a house full of children. Later, true to her nature, she gave back by teaching at the same institution. Ever active, she was a long-standing member and once president of the American Association of University Women. Naturally, she supported the activities of her children. She has helped with clubs and sports and was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. All those who knew her gained from her caring, mentoring, strength, and support. We cannot help but to feel her loss, and we long to be with her again at our new home-coming in the Kingdom of God.

Visitation is from 11 am to 12 PM, Friday, March 11, 2016 at Wiley Funeral Home in Glen Rose. Graveside Service is 12:30 PM, Friday March 11, 2016 at Squaw Creek Cemetery in Rainbow, TX. She will be buried alongside her husband and daughter. Donations may be made in her honor to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.