Bartholomew, Rudolph D.

Rudolph D. Bartholomew, MGen USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on September 7, 2010.

Major General Rudolph D. Bartholomew, U.S.A.F. Retired Major General Rudolph D. Bartholomew, U.S.A.F. Retired, of Naples, Florida died unexpectedly on September 7, 2010.

Born and reared in Battle Creek, Michigan, he graduated from St. Philip High School in 1946, and enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was discharged in 1949 with the rank of Sergeant and was accepted at Bradley University, Peoria, IL, the same year. He received a commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the USAF in 1952 and his degree in 1953. He then returned to Battle Creek and became a member of the Michigan Air National Guard, the 172nd Fighter Squadron at Kellogg Field. In 1954 he was selected for USAF Pilot Training Class 55-J. After receiving his wings in returned to the Battle Creek ANG Base where he served until 1969.

He lived in Battle Creek, with his first wife, the former Nellie Hagan of Washington, IL, and raised 4 children until he was selected to attend Air University in Montgomery, AL. After attending the Air War College Class of 1970, he was assigned to Selfridge AF Base, near Mt. Clemens, Michigan, as the project officer to transfer the historic Selfridge from the USAF to the Michigan ANG. He was selected to be the first ANG officer to command Selfridge ANG Base that was the host for units of all five branches of the US Armed Services.

In 1975 he was assigned to Command the 127th Tactical Fighter Wing at Selfridge and served until 1981. At that time he left Selfridge and was assigned as Commander Headquarters Michigan Guard with units at Selfridge, Battle Creek, Alpena and Lansing. He retired from the military in 1984 after 37 years of service.

In 1981 he married the former Mary Vertin of Mt. Clemens, MI. They moved to Naples Florida in 1984. He attended the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy in 1987 and became a Florida Certified Law Enforcement Officer. He was a part-time Deputy with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office where he volunteered service, on the road, in the air and on marine patrol. In the Special Services Bureau, He also was a US Customs Officer with the Blue Lightning Strike Force for drug interdiction; a Commissioner of the Naples Airport Authority; and a FAA Safety Counselor in the Naples District. He retired from Collier County in 2008 after 20 years of service.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Mary, three of his four children: Mark of Franklin, NH; Matthew of Altadena, CA and Paula Nix (Ron) of Harrison Twp. MI., He is also survived by six of his eight stepchildren. Marie Cornillie (Sandy) of Naples, FL; Thomas Vertin (Kathy) of Harsens Island, MI; Paula Abdilla (Joseph) of Algonac, MI; Joyce Guilfoil (Paul) of Ocala, FL: Steven Vertin (Jean Mondesire) of Tustin, CA; and David Vertin (Christine) of Naples, FL; thirty-three grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

The General has been predeceased by his sister Emily Louise Garriga of Clinton, MS; daughter Patricia Sinke of Lansing, MI; daughter-in-law Annette Bartholomew of Altadena, CA; stepchildren William Vertin of Palm Springs, CA, and Susan Budzinski (Timothy) of Fair Haven, MI and grandson Brett Abdilla of Algonac, MI. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Phillip Catholic Church in Battle Creek Michigan on Thursday September 23, 2010 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent in General Bartholomew’s memory to: Selfridge Air Museum, 27333 C. Street Bldg. 1011, Selfridge ANG Base, Michigan 48045″