Thomas Dudley Beck December 11, 1945 ~ April 8, 2024

Thomas Dudley Beck, known by his birth family as Thomas and by everyone else as Dudley, died at home on April 8, 2024 from brain cancer.
Thomas was born and raised in Madeira, OH, the only son of nine children. He graduated from St. Xavier High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Carroll College on a basketball scholarship before attending medical schools at the University of South Dakota and University of Washington.Thomas became known as Dudley during medical school while living in a commune that had one too many Toms. 
Dudley showed boundless generosity in every aspect of his life and deeply affected everyone who met him. He had an affinity for Native American cultures, and spent his career as a doctor and clinical director with the Indian Health Service serving the Hopi, Umatilla, and Navajo people. 
Dudley was dedicated to helping others, and was an active member in the community. He retired in Bluff, UT, where he spent his free time rafting rivers, coaching basketball, hunting mosquitoes, gardening, beekeeping, and rescuing stray animals. He dipped his toe in the turbulent waters of local politics, serving on the town service area board.
Dudley helped found the Bluff Animal Rescue Committee, which rescued and found homes for countless dogs. Dudley loved his friends and all people young and old. He was a proud wrangler of the Bluff Whipper Snappers as well as an original member of the Bluff Old Farts. Many will be familiar with the jokes, some long-winded, that he recycled for years.
A lover of all things whimsical, Dudley had a childlike goofiness until the end. May his unmistakable raucous laugh ring out in our memories forever. 
Dudley is survived by his wife Glen Morel Renner, sons Spencer Beck and Eli Beck (Mattie Orme), granddaughter Evette June Beck Orme, former wife Julia Schwalenstocker, and sisters Linda Greiner and Jennifer (Terry) Yuan.
He is preceded in death by his father Jack (Herbert John) Beck, mother Betty (Elizabeth Ruth Drees) Beck, sisters Kathie Best, Jackie (Jim) Lawrence, Claudia (Jim) Buchanan, Vickie Burger, Laurie (Tom) Carney, Mary Beck, and step-son Roger Burton.
Dudley’s family is very grateful for the thoughtful cards and gifts sent to him during his illness. Dudley enjoyed having each of the cards read to him, and savored all the cheese and peanut butter crackers, a life-long favorite.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Rocky Mountain Home Care for the excellent care given to Dudley in his last months. 
A celebration of Dudley’s life will be announced soon. Meanwhile, consider adopting a dog or cat, planting a tree, or putting up a birdhouse in his memory.
Think of Dudley the next time you find yourself rafting a desert river, hiking the bluffs, reading a mystery book, looking up an old friend, or telling a long joke.
Contributions in honor of Dudley can be made to Underdog Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation: www.underdogrescuemoab.org.