Robert Curtis Hudson, 1934–1981

Born on 8 November 1934 in Bragg City, Pemiscot County, Missouri, Robert Curtis Hudson was the son of Willie Miller Hudson and Velva Mae (Morton) Hudson. He grew up in Bragg City and St. Louis County. He attended grade school in Bragg City and then went on to Du Bois and St. Clement’s Catholic Schools in St. Louis County and City. He attended Sumner, Vashon, and Ranken Technical Schools in St Louis City and Douglass High School in Webster Groves. He’d get thrown out of one school for some prank and Mama would enroll him in another.

Robert was the mischievous, daring rascal in our family and labeled himself “Red, Old Dad, and Carrot Top” due to his blondish hair. He was never afraid to try anything more than once, even if the experience was negative. I can recall Robert trying to out-race the police from the City of St. Louis to St Louis County and still getting a ticket because “he couldn’t slow down fast enough.” He would thumb rides with strangers and would give you the shirt off his back if he hadn’t lost it playing poker, the dogs, or the horses.

Robert and his brother would un-nerve our mother when it was their turn to wash dishes. The two would toss dishes and glasses from one to the other to dry and put away. Robert would also tease Mama when he was due for punishment by running upstairs and locking himself in the bathroom. Then I recall Robert’s eating habits. He would put catsup, hot sauce, and syrup on the most unusual things like eggs and salmon croquettes.

Robert was always a hard worker and believed in changing jobs often. As a teenager, he sold newspapers, cut grass, made I.B.C. root beer syrup, and loved to play cork ball. Robert worked as a stationary engineer, operating the heating/cooling plants for nearly every hospital, institution, or housing complex that you can name in the City of St. Louis. One year alone he held thirteen such positions. Robert would also work two or three jobs, generally at the same time. Eventually, he established his own business, Bob Hudson’s Heating & Cooling Company.

Robert and his wife had two sons. Their second son, Renard Everette, born on 21 February 1961, died on 30 August 2008, age forty-seven. He was given the nickname “Shadow” by his grandmother Velva as he and Robert spent so much time together. Renard and his grandmother Velva also shared a beagle hound by the name of Lucky. Renard continued his father’s business after his father passed away.

Robert Hudson died on 19 January 1981, at the age of forty-seven. He was cremated and entombed at Valhalla Mausoleum, where it is warm, dry, and quiet. He said he didn’t want to get rained on or have people walking around over him in the ground. That was our Robert, who was both a thorn and a jewel to us. We have missed him tremendously from our lives. It’s hard to believe that he is not here with us, but then I suppose he really is because we have so many fond memories of his antics.

(Sources are census records, death certificate, family documents, newspaper articles, obituary, and personal knowledge.)

Written by Eloise Bernice Hudson Hunt
March 2017

© 2017 St. Louis Genealogical Society

Robert Curtis Hudson

Photo in the collection of Eloise Hudson Hunt
Used with permission

Renard Everette Hudson

Photo in the collection of Eloise Hudson Hunt
Used with permission