Richard Paul Trudell

Richard "Dick" Paul Trudell, 78, went peacefully home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, January 22, 2025, in Spartanburg, SC, following a 3-year illness.

Dick was born in Burlington, VT, on February 27, 1946, to Edward and Theresa Trudell of South Burlington, VT. He attended South Burlington schools and graduated from South Burlington High School (SBHS) in 1964. He played football for SBHS and was named to the 1964 Vermont-New Hampshire Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football team.

Dick earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont (UVM) in 1969. While at UVM, he was a member of Lambda Iota fraternity and was its President during his senior year. On May 30, 1968, he was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.

Immediately following his graduation from UVM, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy, and was sent to Officers Candidate School, then to Vietnam. He served with the Navy Seabees Construction Battalion in 1970 and 1971 and was promoted from Ensign to LTJG.

Following his deployment, Dick returned to Vermont and married his college sweetheart, Kathryn "Kay" Mary Rock, on July 3, 1971. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2024.

Dick's engineering career began with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He was then employed by Willis Engineering in Williston, VT, subsequently purchased the firm, and founded Trudell Consulting Engineers (TCE) in Blair Park, Williston, in 1975. Dick was TCE's President and CEO until his retirement in 2012. During his tenure as Chief Engineer for TCE, Dick and his employees were involved in providing a range of services for projects such as Tafts Corner, Thompson Point, Taft Farms, the Trapp Family Lodge, Smugglers Notch, and the development of Blair Park; as well as projects in New York and Massachusetts.

In addition to Tau Beta Pi, Dick was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Water Works Association, among others.

Shortly after their marriage, the Trudells moved to Winooski, VT, and lived there for 23 years. Dick served 10 years on Winooski's Design Review Board. They moved to Grand Isle, VT, in 1994 and lived there for 30 years. After he and his wife retired, they purchased a home in Old Bridge Village, North Fort Myers, FL, where they spent many happy winters.Throughout their lives, Dick and Kay were involved with many pro-life and political organizations, as well as supported numerous schools, colleges, hospitals, community and religious charities, and veteran's organizations.

Dick was a founding member of the Christian Action Ministry Network and served as its President and newsletter editor for 25 years.

Dick was active in local, state, and national politics. A longtime Republican, Dick served several terms as Chair of both the Grand Isle Town and County Republican Committees. He was active in voter registration drives, and campaigned for candidates at the local, state, and national level.

Dick was a member of Post 91 of the American Legion in Colchester, VT. He was a lifetime member of the Navy Seabees Veterans of America. He supported many veterans' organizations such as Wounded Warriors, Homes for Our Troops, and Josh's House in Vermont.

The Trudells were members of the Community Emergency Response Teams in both Grand Isle, VT, and Old Bridge Village in North Fort Myers, FL. Dick served several terms as Director for both teams.

Following the attacks on 9/11, the Trudells joined the Vermont State Guard and served from 2003 to 2008. Dick attained the rank of Colonel.

Devout Christians, the Trudells attended Community Bible Church in South Burlington, VT, for over 30 years, Dick serving as a Deacon and Church Treasurer. He and Kay also attended Ignite Church in Williston, VT.

Dick is survived by his wife, Kay, of Spartanburg, SC (formerly of Grand Isle, VT); his son, Anthony Allen and wife JoAnn, of Media, PA, and their daughters Zoe and Hailey; Dick's sister and brother-in-law, Anne and Joe Devereaux, of Dade City, FL; his nephew, Paul Devereaux and wife Alicia, of Boiling Spring Lakes, NC; his niece Nancy-Anne Thorpe and husband Trevor, of Spartanburg, SC, and their children; his niece, Aimee Wheaton and husband Jason, of Longwood, FL, and their children; his nephew, Nathan Trudell and wife Petrie, of Rolesville, NC, and their children; his nephew, Aaron Trudell and wife Jamie, of Palm Coast, FL, and their children; his nephew, John Devereaux and his daughter, of Johnson, VT; his nephew, Micah Trudell and wife Becky, of Eustis, FL, and their children; and his nephew, James Devereaux, of Orlando, FL. Dick is also survived by one great-great niece. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Edward and Theresa Trudell, of South Burlington, VT; and his brother, Thomas Trudell and wife Shirley, of Palm Coast, FL.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Memory Care and Skilled Nursing units at Summit Hills Retirement Community for the love and compassion they gave to Dick while caring for him throughout his illness; as well as the staff at Providence Hospice and Juan Tax from Live Long Well Care, who provided additional care and companionship for Dick.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8th, at 11:00 am, at the Palmetto Mortuary, 2290 Highway 56, Spartanburg, SC. Following the service, an informal gathering for family and friends will be held at the American Legion, Post 28, 94 West Park Drive, Duncan Park, Spartanburg, SC.

Flowers for the service can be sent to the Palmetto Mortuary at the above address. Donations in Dick's memory can be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011; to Aspire Now, 5399 Williston Road, Suite 207, Williston, VT 05495; or to The Josh Pallotta Fund, P.O. Box 542, Colchester, VT 05446, which provides services to military veterans.

Dick will be interred in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, VT, at a later date, to be determined by the family.