GROTON, VT--James Woodward Dudley, 78, passed away on November 3, 2020 after a period of declining health, surrounded by his family.

Jim was born in Woodsville, NH, on August 19, 1942, the son of David and Florence Dudley.  He graduated from Woodsville High School in 1960 and served in the Army National Guard in Woodsville.

Jim was a big guy with a soft heart and a strict rule about telling the truth.  He has been a meat cutter, a truck driver for St. Johnsbury Trucking and Perry's Oil, a snow machine and car salesman, and an oil delivery driver for Jock Oil.  He was also a Past Master and Secretary of the Pulaski Lodge, President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Ammonoosuc Fish and Game Club (Trap Boy) and the Legion.

He was husband to Phyllis (Moulton) Dudley for nearly 50 years; a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-Uncle, brother, and son—and one heck of a good friend to me and others.  So much a friend to me and my family that my daughter said, "Dad, if you're not around when I get married, I would like Jim to walk me down the aisle."

Jim liked to hike in the woods, fish, hunt and, while he didn't 'drink', he liked to 'sample' the hard cider he made.  He liked to hike the Appalachian Trail, especially at night with a full moon.  He would hike 5+ miles up to a cabin on top of a mountain in a canyon next to a lake with a canoe. Jim loved the outdoors so much that he at one time considered becoming a Game Warden.  He also was a fan of country western music.

If you were silly enough to ask Jim what he thought of something, you'd better hold onto your britches; that was just what he was about to tell you!  Straight out, no lie, just what you asked for.  Yep, it was pretty cut and dried for Jim!

Jim is survived by his wife, Phyllis Moulton Dudley; daughter, Virginia Clark; granddaughter, Patricia Hilton; great grandson, Brannan Pike; granddaughter, Stephanie Richards; great grandsons, Brandon Hilton, Asher Hilton, Kyle Field; Sisters, Nancy Saltmarsh, Florence Alger, Joan Ward and husband Harlow; multiple nieces and nephews, and special lifelong friends David, Henry, and Tom Ilsley and their families.

He was predeceased by his siblings Margaret Wheeler, David Dudley and Donald Dudley.

On a personal note if you ask me 'who was Jim Dudley?'  He was the kid who lived up the street who I got to be real good friends with.  We went to school together, church together.  We were church ushers together and snuck out after the offering together.  We hunted and fished together, joined clubs together and had some pretty strange adventures together.  He was best man at both of my weddings, and said he wasn't going to do that again!  The long and short of it is, he was my best friend, and I will miss him. -Dave Ilsley.

There will not be any service maybe in the spring.