Rudolph W Looper

Rudolph W. Looper, 86, passed away in a Houston hospital on Nov 1, 2010. Rudolph had moved to a nursing home in Houston this summer near his son, Don Looper. Funeral Services: 2:00 PM Friday, Nov. 5 at First The United Methodist Church of Azle. Interment: Nelson Cemetery in Reno. Rudolph was born in Reno, August 31, 1924. Rudolph was one of 6 kids. Mostly barefoot, he worked fields and milked cows for the Wilkersons, a three mile walk to work, during the depression. Rudolph left his local sweetheart, Margie Lee Nix, valedictorian of Springtown, and the car he bought, to go to the Navy in World War II. Margieâ?TMs brother, Audy Nix, and Rudolph were both given leave during the War to come home when the Nix family home burned. He helped modify the chicken coop for the Nix family to live until he returned from the war. Immediately upon returning home April 1945, Rudolph and Margie were married, and spent their first night together in the one bedroom of the chicken coop, while her parents slept on the floor that night. Rudolph worked for the REA in Azle until he fell from a pole and broke his back. He was terminated due to the broken back and could not get other jobs with insurance. Local friend Joe Rider gave Rudolph a job. Joe and Rudolph became best friends. Rudolph became Joeâ?TMs operations manager for the butane/propane/gasoline business. In 1958, Rudolph was in a butane explosion. With third degree burns, he was in the hospital for 8 weeks. The Azle Fire Department cared for his property. Jim Bob Nation insured him to economically survive the ordeal. Joe Riderâ?TMs death from cancer was devastating to Rudolph, causing him to quit smoking. Rudolph continued to work with Jean, Jeff and Judy to help the Rider family continue the business until retirement at 65. Rudolph ran the football scoreboard for about 15 years, helped Jim Bob Nation start little league baseball in Azle, helped start the Azle Volunteer Fire Department, and Margie helped start the Ladies Auxiliary. Rudolph and Margie were active members of First Methodist Church for over 60 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie in 2001; and daughter, Sandra Harris in July 2010.Survivors: son, Donald Looper, an attorney in Houston with Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C.; grandchildren, Kendra Creighton, Joey Harris, Scott, Reed, Cory and Quinn Looper; great-grandchildren, Jesse, Jake & Jett Creighton and Jeremiah Harris; brother, Ronald Looper of California; sister, Oreva Swinney of Ft. Worth; Don Looper expressed gratitude to the close relatives of Christenberryâ?TMs, Wilkersonâ?TMs, Princeâ?TMs, and Nix.