Leona Faye Hudson, 81, beloved wife of Charles “Chuck”
Hudson, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, September 20,
2022 in Dahlonega.
Leona was born July 27, 1941, in Springfield, Colorado, to Charles Elmer Hasty and
Julia Catherine Becker Hasty. She was raised on her family’s cattle ranch and wheat
farm in Villegreen, CO and graduated from Kim High School as senior class
salutatorian.
Leona met her husband-to-be while in High School competing with rival 4H Club
projects and sports. Teen sweethearts Leona and Chuck enrolled at Colorado State
University and married in Trinidad, CO on July 9 th , 1960. To this union, their daughters
Kathy (1961), Karen (1963) and Kristine (1966) were born.
Leona was preceded in death by her parents and four older brothers. She is survived by
her loving husband of 62 years; daughter, Kathy Smith (Brooklyn Park, MN); daughter
and son-in-law, Karen and Phil Rizzo (St. Petersburg, FL); daughter and son-in-law,
Kristine and Martin Titus (Gainesville, GA); granddaughter and her husband, Brianna
and Borys Puentes (St. Petersburg, FL); granddaughter, Marina Rizzo (St. Petersburg,
FL); grandson, Austin Toole (Cumming, GA); and, great granddaughter, Noelle Puentes
(St. Petersburg, FL).
After a 20-year career as a dental office manager, Leona retired with her husband, who
had a 37-year career with USDA, to the foothills of the Grand Mesa in Colorado, where
they created great memories RVing in the Colorado mountains and winter months in
Florida. They moved from Battlement Mesa, CO to Dahlonega in 2006 and joined
Dahlonega United Methodist Church. In 2015, they purchased a beach condo in
Redington Shores, FL and began their “snowbird” lifestyle, splitting time between
Georgia and Florida.
Leona loved to read all her life, and retirement life afforded her the opportunity to pursue
that passion. In the late 60’s and 70’s she was blessed to share her Christian faith
leading Bible studies and serving on many weekend retreats with the Lay Witness
Mission Program originated by the Methodist Church. She traveled to retreats in
Virginia, West Virginia, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska to
share her faith.
A Celebration of Life for Leona will be held at Dahlonega United Methodist Church on
Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 2pm and will be officiated by Dr. Steve Schofield. Interment
of her cremains will be held in Trinidad, Colorado at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Way Point Ministries, 129
Center Point Drive, Dahlonega, GA 30533. For more information, you may call (706)
864-7110. Thank you.
Arrangements by Dahlonega Funeral Home.
