Obituary: Ludke, Gary Alan
Age 79
He was surrounded by family at his home at Rockwood at Hawthorne, Spokane, WA.
Gary was born on September 29, 1935 in Spokane to Harry and Evelyn Ludke.
After serving as a Navy radioman in the Korean conflict, he married his North Central High School sweetheart, Marlys McGeorge, in 1956.
He received his BA in Education from Eastern Washington State College and his MA in Education from the University of Oregon.
He was an educator in Vancouver, WA, serving as a teacher, a counselor, and a middle school administrator.
He also served as a president of the Vancouver Education Association.
Following his retirement from the Vancouver School System in 1989, Gary and Marlys moved back to Spokane to take care of elderly parents.
They left behind many good friends at their church (Vancouver First Presbyterian) where he was an active member, and among co-workers from the school district.
He was also active as a member of Shadle Park Presbyterian Church in Spokane, serving as a deacon, an elder, and a moderator of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest.
Second only to his devotion to God was his love for his family.
He cherished his wife of 58 years, Marlys.
He is survived by her, his children Diane (Mike) Midkiff and Nancy (Doug) Marks, his grandchildren Jennie (Nathan) Fawbush, David (Shelly) Midkiff, Becky (Jim) Mace, Kayla Midkiff (Steve Florian), Kari (Elisha) Ahearn, Ali Marks, and Chase Marks, and his great-grandchildren Evelyn, Lillian and Vivien Fawbush, Catherine Midkiff, Braxton Florian and Lawrence Ahearn.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Keith.
A memorial service will be held at the Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley Ave., Spokane, WA, 99205 on Friday, March 27, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. .
Contributions in his memory can be made to Shadle Park Presbyterian Church, 5508 N. Alberta St., Spokane, WA, 99205.
The family thanks the nursing staff at Rockwood and Horizon Hospice for their loving care.