“Captain Rudolph F. Falkenstein, U.S. Navy (Ret), died on October 16, 2018 after a long illness, surrounded by his family. He was born in Shenandoah, PA on June 5, 1928. At age 14, Rudy entered Valley Forge Military Academy on a full musical scholarship and graduated in 1946, after which he entered the Navy in a special post-war Flight Midshipmen Program. After two years of study at Temple University he went on active duty for naval flight training at Pensacola, FL. In 1950 he was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned as an Ensign. He then served in positions of increased responsibility, including completion of undergraduate work at Penn State University, and was promoted through the ranks to Captain in a total of 32- years of service. Also, he attended both the Naval War College and the Army War College, where he was also a faculty member and Senior Naval Representative to the Commandant. Captain Falkenstein was a longtime member of the former Allison United Methodist Church where he chaired every formal committee, was a church representative at annual conference in Central PA and taught an adult Sunday School Class for many years. He held long time memberships in St. John’s Masonic Lodge #260 (32nd Degree), both the Association of the U.S. Navy and the Association of the U.S. Army, and the Military Officers Association of America. In addition, he was a 50+ year member of the Naval Institute. He was an avid golfer and being a plank owner in the Mon-Wed-Fri Golf Group at Carlisle Barracks enriched his life with lasting friendships that brought him much joy. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Gwendolyn (Fenicle) Falkenstein; three sons: CDR Rudolph F. Falkenstein II, USN Ret (Nora) of California, MD, Dr. Gerald P. Falkenstein, LTC USA Ret (Vicki) of Beaver, PA, and Ronald J. Falkenstein (Carla) of Charlotsville, VA; a daughter, Judith A. Caldwell (John) of Elizabethtown, PA; eleven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; and one sister, Mae Philipps of New Holland, PA. He was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Campbell. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Carlisle United Methodist Church on West Pomfret Street in Carlisle with the Rev. James VanZandt officiating. There will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts may be made to the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, PA, attention the Children’s Division; or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 1510, Ranson, WV 25438-4510. Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, Carlisle is in charge of the arrangements. www.Since1853.com. www.pennlive.com/obits

Published on Pennlive.com and in The Patriot-News from Oct. 17 to Oct. 18, 2018”