Glen A. Dudley passed away at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah on August 27, 2025 after a brief battle with cancer.
Glen was born in Paducah, Kentucky on January 11, 1961 to Junior and Shelba Jean (Johnson) Dudley. He was the third of five children.
Glen’s first wife, Debora, is the mother of his two sons, Matthew and Michael Dudley. In 2014 he married Laura Mueller, a childhood classmate, and their lives have been enriched by Matt’s daughter, Kaylie.
Glen is preceded in death by his parents, his son Michael, one sister and one brother. He is survived by his wife, Laura; his son, Matthew; granddaughter, Kaylie; his sisters, cousins, and other relatives.
Glen loved working with anything motorized or mechanical and was especially gifted regarding cares and small engines. His early jobs included running a muffler shop with his dad and handling sound for the local Southern Illinois band Footloose. His down-to-earth nature led many to welcome him into their homes for a meal when he worked for Combined Insurance. He loved dogs (especially chocolate labs), rock music, motorcycles, hunting for morel mushrooms, putting out a good garden and the pride of a home-grown tomato. More than anything, he loved his family and was a man of his word.
His maternal grandfather was Rev. A.M. Johnson, who was instrumental in starting a number of churches in the area as well as the roots of Baptist Hospital in Paducah. Glen looked to his grandfather’s life for guidance as his cancer progressed. As a child, they had talked often about questions that don’t have answers that we can readily see. Being sustained by faith in the midst of pain was a great gift across the generations.
It was his wish to be cremated.
Collier Funeral Home & Cremation Services are handling arrangements.