Hudson Ellwood Messerall

Hudson Elwood Messerall, age 87, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at Baptist Medical Center, in Pensacola, Florida.

He was born May 1st, 1920 in Cochranton, Pennsylvania, the son of Floyd and Lotus (Anderhalt) Messerall.  He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Dorothy Jane Scott whom he married on July 27th, 1963.   He was also a devoted father to a daughter, Jennifer Westbrook and her husband Tony of LaGrange, Georgia; and a son, John Hudson Messerall also of LaGrange, Georgia.

Hudson was a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, received his BA in Education and his MA in History from the University of Illinois, Champaign.  He retired as Junior High School Principal in Wood Dale, Illinois in 1984 after 23 years of service.  He had previously taught at North Park Academy in Chicago, East Avenue Middle School in White Plains, New York, Neal Junior High School in North Chicago and the US Air Force High School, H.H. Arnold, in Wiesbaden Germany.  In his retirement, he also worked for Moore Business Products in Vernon Hills, Illinois, retiring in 1993.

He was a 25-year member and former Elder at Cumberland Baptist Church, Mt. Prospect, Illinois.  He was also actively involved with Gideon’s International, where he helped to distribute Bibles and New Testaments.

Additional family include; two brothers, Elwin “Alec” F. Messerall and his wife, Peg of Meadville, Pennsylvania and Durward Paul Messerall of Noblesville, Indiana; a niece, Darlene (Ron) Cribbs of East Canton, Ohio and three nephews, Tom (Anne) Messerall of Alexandria, Ohio, Doug (Patty) Messerall of Meadville, Pennsylvania and Dan (Holly) Messerall of Croton, Ohio, three grandchildren, Ashton Elizabeth Westbrook, Eli Hudson Westbrook and Daniel Scott Westbrook and brother-in-law, John Allan Scott and his wife, Dorie of Tucson, Arizona and sister-in-law, Shirley Scott Brown and her husband, Jeff of LaGrange, Georgia.

In addition to his parents, a sister, D. Maxine Messerall of Meadville, Pennsylvania, preceded him in death.

Services will be lead by Pastor and nephew Douglas Messerall at Calvary Baptist Church in Meadville, Pennsylvania at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday the 19th of May 2007.  Burial will be immediately following the service in Cochranton Cemetery, Cochranton, Pennsylvania.

Memorials can be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-0800 or by visiting the Gideon’s Memorial Bible Program online at: https://www.gideons.org/payment/donationsmemorial.asp

Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.