Rodger Dale Ruddick, age 67, of Hayden, passed away at his home on Friday, January 12, 2024.
Rodger was born in Seymour on September 10, 1956, to William Dale Ruddick and the late Verda Ann (Marshall) Ruddick. He was a 1974 graduate of Seymour High School, and he later attended IUPUC. He worked at the Seymour Tribune for a short period of time. He began working at Cummins on Oct. 25, 1976, where he retired in 2016.
Rodger put his heart and soul into preserving the history of Hayden and Spencer Township. He was the founder and curator of the Hayden Historical Museum, as well as a museum member. He was the director of the Hayden Little Hoosiers history group and was instrumental in organizing the Hayden Labor Day Festival. Rodger was also the secretary/treasurer for the Hayden High School Alumni. He was an avid writer and was the author of two books: The History of Hayden & Spencer Township and From the Hayfields to the Battlefields.
Rodger attended the Hayden United Methodist Church and was a member of the Reddington Rear-Wheelers Antique Tractor Club. Everyone enjoyed reading his Facebook Throwback Thursday posts, where he would share family and community memories or history. In his spare time, he enjoyed attending high school basketball games, concerts, and musicals. He was a fan of IU basketball, Cincinnati Reds baseball, and Indianapolis Colts or Minnesota Vikings football. He loved watching old TV shows, such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Honeymooners,” “Perry Mason,” “Gunsmoke,” and more! Rodger also loved to play euchre and was often described as a “shifty player.” He enjoyed watching his granddaughters play sports and perform in plays and musicals. He was always there for his family and loved spending time with them.
Survivors include his father, William D. Ruddick, of Franklin, IN; children, Erin (Leonard) Collett, of Hayden and Spencer (Shantell) Ruddick of Hayden; two sisters, Julie (Bill) Klaes of Franklin and Jill (Mike) McGrew of Seymour; and three grandchildren, Peyton and Haley Collett of Hayden and Kashton Ruddick of Hayden.
Rodger was preceded in death by his mother, the late Verda Ann Ruddick.
A memorial service for Rodger will be held on Saturday, January 20, at 11:00AM at Hayden United Methodist Church, 7260 W. Base Rd., North Vernon, IN 47265. The family will receive guests on Friday evening, January 19 from 4:00 – 8:00PM at Voss and Sons Funeral Service, 316 N. Chestnut St., Seymour, IN 47274, and again on Saturday morning at the church from 10AM until the time of service. Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions can be made in Rodger Ruddick’s memory to the Hayden Historical Museum.

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