Rudolphe "Rudy" Houde

Rudolphe "Rudy" M. Houde, 95, of Manchester, died peacefully on January 10, 2017 at Catholic Medical in the presence of his family.

He was born in Manchester on August 27, 1921, the son of Philemon and Marie (Montminy) Houde and had been a lifelong resident of the city. He started his musical career at the age of five with the Phil Houde Orchestra, which included his father Phil on the trumpet, his sister Lillian Houde Rheault on the drums, his sister, Florence Houde Allard on the piano and himself playing the saxophone and clarinet. Rudy was a West High School graduate in 1939. He was a World War II Army Air Corps Veteran, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was an electrical specialist, working on B-24 and B-29 aircrafts in Italy and later in Guam during the war.

He continued his musical career in 1936 with the Queen All Girls Band. He played music with Bob Hall and Wayne French in Concord. In 1964, he joined the Ray Morin Orchestra, where he played at the American Legion and Sweeney Post until the early 1990's. In 1946, Rudy was part owner of Vet's Spa Restaurant in Suncook. Rudy was also a successful commercial real estate owner in Manchester starting in 1963. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Manchester Country Club and Intervale Country Club where he was affectionately known as "Rudy The Houde". He was also a lifelong member of Ste. Marie Parish.

Family members include his sister, Florence Allard of Bedford; his nieces and nephews, Janice Aubin and her husband David of Manchester, David Rheault and his wife Susan of Manchester, Ronny Allard and his wife Louise of Bedford, Maurice Allard and his wife Anita of Goffstown, and Claudette Gotsegan and her husband Robert of Meredith; along with several great nephews and nieces, and great great nephews and nieces, including his namesake, Blake Rudy. He was predeceased by a sister, Lillian Houde Rheault in 2006 and by a nephew, Gerry Allard in 2005.

Visitation will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 250 Coolidge Ave., Manchester on Friday from 8:30 to 9:45 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 10:00 in Ste. Marie Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. To view Rudy's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net