William David Dudley

September 26, 1939 - July 23, 2025

Bill Dudley wasn't just a man who lived 85 years—he was a man who made those years count. The kind of person who could calculate rocket trajectories by day and share jokes that had the whole room laughing by night, Bill passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025, in Austin, Texas, surrounded by the love that defined his remarkable life.

Born in Hollis, Oklahoma, to Freeda and Dick Dudley, Bill was a small town boy with big dreams and an even bigger heart. After graduating from Hollis High School, he pursued mathematics at Oklahoma City University—where he met his beloved wife of 62 years, Nancy Beth Robertson. They married on June 1, 1962, beginning a partnership that would anchor everything Bill accomplished.

Bill's sharp mind and steady hands earned him a position at North American Aviation in Los Angeles, where he worked on something most people only dreamed about: bringing astronauts safely back to Earth. As part of the Apollo re-entry program team, Bill helped write the equations that brought heroes home from the moon. It was work that filled him with pride for the rest of his life, along with the lifelong friendships he forged there.

California gave Bill his career and his daughter, Kimberly Renee, but Oklahoma never stopped calling him home. After a decade on the West Coast, Bill and Nancy returned to their roots in Pryor, where Bill became the heart and soul of Mayes County Abstract Company. For more than three decades, he built a business on something increasingly rare: his word was his bond. The community took notice—naming him Citizen of the Year and turning to him repeatedly for leadership that was as steady as it was humble.

But Bill's greatest accomplishment wasn't written in the stars or recorded in courthouse files—it was the family he built. In retirement, he and Nancy moved first to Sun City in Georgetown, then to Austin, drawn by the opportunity to be closer to Kim and their two grandsons, Will and Henry. Those final years were pure gold: watching soccer games, sharing stories, and delighting in the beautiful chaos that only grandchildren can bring.

Ask anyone who knew Bill, and they'll tell you about his quick wit, his absolutely contagious laugh, and his unwavering integrity. He was the person who showed up when you needed help, always ready with straightforward advice delivered with genuine care.

Bill leaves behind his daughter Kimberly Todd; son-in-law David Todd; grandsons Will and Henry Todd; and his faithful companion, Tux, a dog who understood that the best spot in any house was right next to Bill. He is also survived by a network of extended family and lifelong friends who considered themselves fortunate to know him.

The Todd family is deeply grateful for the love and support shown during Bill's recent health challenges. While we are heartbroken to say goodbye, we know that Bill's legacy—built on love, laughter, integrity, and the unshakeable belief that every person matters—will live on in everyone whose life he touched.