Dudley Bernard Fricke died peacefully at his home on February 12, 2025, at the age of 97, surrounded by loving family and friends. He was born on August 27, 1927, in Washington Parish, LA, and resided in Baton Rouge, LA.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Booty Fricke, who he married on January 21, 1951, and enjoyed 74 years of matrimony. He is also survived by his children, Gretchen Fricke Harris and husband, Michael, Jeffrey B. Fricke, John D. Fricke and wife, Laurie Lee, David B. Fricke and wife, Melinda Deloach; grandchildren, Jennifer Guerin (Matthew), Ryan Harris (Lauren), Samantha Stowe, Jarred Fricke (Kelly), Kyle Fricke, Kayla Pence (Kevin), Cody Fricke; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other family members.
Dudley is preceded in death by his parents, George M. Fricke and Edna Corkern Fricke; and siblings, Martha Goss, W. Frederick Fricke, Tessie Graham, P. Ray Fricke, Willie Nell Fricke, and Shirley E. "Pete" Fricke.
He graduated from Franklinton High School in LA in 1945 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1946-1951. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Agriculture at Louisiana State University in 1954 and a Master of Science degree from Louisiana State University in 1956. In 1954, Dudley competed as a member of the Department of Agricultural Economics Debate Team and won a national championship.
In 1960, he was awarded The Southern Fellowship but interrupted his Doctorate studies to assist in the establishment of the campus at Louisiana State University at Alexandria where he served for 15 years thereafter as the LSU-A Dean of Admissions.
In 1975, he moved to Baton Rouge to become the Executive Assistant to the President of the LSU System and served in that role for 29 years, supporting three consecutive LSU Presidents.
For his entire life, Dudley was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. In addition to loving and enjoying his family, he devoted his life to serving Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
In his career loyally serving LSU, he enjoyed all LSU sports, gardening, golfing and traveling. But to be missed most of all will be Dudley's appreciation of people, his avid skills as a storyteller and his ability to engage in witty banter with all.
Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 9 am until the time of funeral services at 10 am. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.
Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greenoaksfunerals.com
