Paul Harwood Dudley
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Paul's obituary
In Memory of
Paul H. Dudley, Jr.
May 23, 1931 – September 2, 2024
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Paul, passed away peacefully after 93 years of life blessed with family, friends, trips, love, and laughter. His greatest joys were his wife, Lydia; their four fine sons; being descended from one of California’s pioneering families; and, his oil-finding career spanning twelve states and 60+ years.
He was born on May 23, 1931 in Long Beach, California to Paul Harwood Dudley and Avis Bixby Dudley. After graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, he received degrees in geology from Pomona and UCLA. He joined Humble Oil & Refining Company in 1954, which was the start of a successful career. After 25 years with that company (which became Exxon during his tenure), he joined Mosbacher Production Company in Houston, Texas as Executive Vice President in 1979. In 1982 he joined Consolidated Natural Gas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as Senior Vice President, and later became Vice Chairman and a Member of its Board. From 1988 to 1992 he consulted for Prudential Securities, during which time he formed PHD Energy, Inc. and partnered with other retired executives in exploration projects — finally retiring in 2014. Paul also served the broader geological profession, including as a Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a Trustee of the A.A.P.G. Foundation (1995-2004), a member of The Trustee Associates, and an officer in several geological societies.
In 1981 he married Lydia-Jane Bradley in Houston, Texas. They then moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and ultimately Bend, Oregon. He spent most summers in McCall, Idaho, first visited by his grandparents in 1910. Winters were shortened by trips to the Hawaiian Islands.
Paul is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lydia; his brother Stephen (Nancy), Lake Oswego, Oregon; sons Michael (Deirdre) of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Mark (Judy) of Sewanee, Tennessee; Stephen (Irene) of Bend; and Andrew (Cherie) of Phoenix, Arizona. He is blessed with four wonderful daughters-in-law; two grandsons, Paul (Lara) and Davis; two granddaughters, Elise and Emily; and, one great-granddaughter, Liliana.
Paul will be interred near his parents and grandparents in Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho. He would say he is “a geologist going back to the rocks.”
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