Dr. Loyde Hamilton Hudson's Obituary
Life Legacy
Dr. Loyde Hamilton Hudson, age 95, of Fayetteville passed away on Sunday, August 26, 2018. He was born on June 27, 1923, on a farm in Bruno, Arkansas, the third child of James W. and Jennie Mabel Massey Hudson. He graduated from Bruno Consolidated School at 16 years of age and entered the University of Arkansas.
World War II found him a teenage second lieutenant positioned for the assault on Japan. As the war ended, he decided to enter medical school. Loyde said doctors stayed in the rear, rarely got killed, had warm food, clean clothes, seldom had lice, and usually had women around.
Dr. Hudson graduated first in his class from the University of Arkansas Medical School. He served internships at Philadelphia General Hospital and residencies at University Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas and Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. At the tender age of 40, he was ready to begin his practice of medicine in Amarillo, Texas. Ever the student and after 8 years in practice, he took a fellowship in cardiovascular surgery under famed heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, Texas. Upon completion of his fellowship, he was appointed Director of the Surgical Medicine and Residency Program in Surgery at McLaren General Hospital, University of Michigan, Flint, Michigan.
Upon his retirement, he returned to his roots in Arkansas. Dr. Hudson practiced in Yellville and Bull Shoals Community Hospital. He was a scholar on Civil War Military Medicine. He was extensively published in both medical and Civil War journals and held two patents on early medical devices. Dr. Hudson was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a long-time adult Sunday School teacher.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 62 years, Arlene; his sisters, Hilda Blankenship and Beulah Burleson; and his brothers, James Hudson and Doyne Hudson.
Dr. Hudson is survived by nieces, Sue Harrison of Fayetteville, Janelle Olney, and Barbara Taylor; nephews, Forrest Hudson, Jim Hudson and Bob Hudson; six great-nieces; four great nephews; ten great-great nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Betty Hudson; and his loving companion, Loretta Kinion.
A Memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at First Baptist Church at 20 E. Dickson St., Fayetteville, AR 72701. A Private family burial will be held at Bruno Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to First Baptist Church at 20 E. Dickson St., Fayetteville, AR 72701.
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