Thomas Cude

Thomas Patterson Cude, 93, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at Hacienda Nursing Home in Beeville, Texas. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Pat was born on April 22, 1920 in the Viggo Community, about 5 miles west of Beeville, to William Leslie Cude and Anna Williamson Cude. Pat lived his childhood during the Great Depression. His family, like many in Bee County, survived having little money, living off what they could sell in town from the family farm. In the ninth grade he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and could no longer attend school. He was sent to the sanatorium in San Angelo to recuperate. As a result of his illness he was eligible to attend the National Youth Administration camp near Colorado Springs, Colorado. He went to the camp to learn how to fix radios, but the camp was unable to offer the course. He studied bookbinding and woodworking instead. In his spare time he would get old discarded radios from a local radio shop and salvage the good parts. From those parts he would put together working radios and sell them to the other boys in his dormitory for $4 or $5 dollars each. Later Pat enrolled in the Coyne Electric School in Chicago. There he studied radio, refrigeration and electricity. He graduated in the top of his class. After graduation he was hired by Coyne Electric School as an assistant shop instructor where he taught radio skills to World War II soldiers who were enrolled there. In 1942 with recommendations from Coyne Electric School Pat got a job with Goodyear in New Orleans as their radio service man. He worked there about eighteen months before opening up his own business, Audubon Radio Shop on Magazine Street where he sold and repaired radios. He also maintained electric fans. Fans at that time had to be regularly cleaned and oiled, or they quit running. While there in New Orleans he bought a television to watch the historical first broadcast from the new TV station there. He learned to repair televisions from training courses offered by RCA and Philco. Pat married Alice Irene Johnson on August 2,1952 in New Orleans. In the fall of 1953 they moved back to Beeville and with his brother Bill's help, started building the new shop. In the spring of 1954 he opened Cude TV & Radio. There, he sold many people in the Beeville area their first television. He also installed car radios, TV antennas, and personally made home service calls to repair stereos and televisions. In 1973 he purchased a Radio Shack Franchise. In 1983 Pat changed the name to Cude Electronics, Inc. He eventually turned over the management and ownership of the business to his son, Paul. Pat was a member of the First Baptist Church, Gideons, and the Masonic Lodge. He could fix just about anything. With a little tinkering, he could figure out a way to make it work again. He enjoyed photography, gardening, woodworking and traveling. Pat was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Irene Cude; parents Anna and William Leslie Cude; and brother Bill Cude. He is survived by children Garry Cude and wife Sheila of Beeville; Paul Cude of Beeville; Diann Miller and husband Bill of Commerce City, Colorado; grandchildren Will Cude, Avery Cude, Chris Messer, Brandon Messer, Allyson Messer; sisters Cille Haszier, Ruth Reece, Mary Cutkosky; and brother George Cude. Visitation will be held at Galloway and Sons Funeral Home in Beeville on Tuesday, February 4th from 7:00-9:00 pm. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 5th at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Beeville. Interment will follow at Beeville Memorial Park. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of Hacienda Oaks Nursing Home, and to the caregivers from Exclusive Home Health and Hospice. They also appreciate the ministry provided by staff and members of the First Baptist Church, and the medical care provided by Dr. Joseph Larakers.