Donald Lee Rudy, 86, of Harrisburg, passed away peacefully at Homeland Center on Tuesday October 19, 2021. Born August 8, 1935, the youngest of three children, he was a son of the late Frank and Delma (Beshore) Rudy. Don was raised in Susquehanna Township and was a graduate of Susquehanna High School. He grew up working for his father in the family business, Frank B. Rudy & Sons, located at the Broad Street Market. While working at the market, he met the love of his life, Frances Farver. Don and Frances dated throughout high school and married the summer after graduation on July 4, 1954 – it was soon after that they started their family. In 1968, Don and his brother, Burton, formed a partnership and built Rudy’s Farmers Market in Progress. They employed many family members and friends and supported many local fundraisers. Don ran the ever-popular Christmas tree sales during the holiday season. He was a well-known and valued member of the community. Don was a long-time member of Colonial Park United Church of Christ and enjoyed many years of volunteering at their annual Christmas fundraiser. An avid athlete, Don played baseball throughout high school and continued on a Legion team after graduation. He enjoyed ping pong, pool, tennis, golf and family pinochle games. He and Fran were on a bowling league for many years. Don was also a loyal Penn State and Phillies fan. He spent his childhood vacations at the beach – where he always loved riding the waves. In later years, he owned his own home on the bay and enjoyed boating, fishing and taking excursions with Fran on their jet ski. Don had a moped and a scooter and was often seen riding around Progress or crossing the State Street Bridge to visit family. He was a great dancer and took turns dancing with Fran and his daughters at many events. He had a passion for photography and videography and took great pride in being able to document family gatherings. While Don and Fran took many church bus trips, cruises and traveled to Colorado to visit family, their favorite destination was their home on the bay in Delaware. Their children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of gathering there every year for vacations and weekend getaways. Don was fun loving and was the life of the party. His boisterous voice and laugh could be heard long before he entered a room. He was a great story teller and had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved Christmas and was known for the many Christmas Eve parties that he and Fran hosted for family and friends. Don never lost his sense of childlike wonderment and every Christmas morning, just as excited as the grandchildren, he would hop in his car and go to each of their homes to watch them open their presents. The most important thing to Don was his family – he was so proud of each one and would do anything for them at a moment’s notice. Life will not be the same without him. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Frances and his sister, Mary Jane Clark. In addition to his brother, Burton Rudy, he leaves behind four daughters: Debbie Kurtz (Michael), Cindy Albright (Miles), Tami Raffensperger (George) and Sandie Pensiero (John). Also left to cherish his memory are his 11 grandchildren: Joshua Kurtz, Courtney Egal (Jason), Michael Kurtz, Lauren Kovacs (Attila), Amber Bowers (John), Tara Hoffman, Taylor Raffensperger, Beau Raffensperger, Elizabeth Raffensperger, Max Pensiero and Joseph Pensiero; 17 great grandchildren: Brandon (Kim), Jaxon, Rylee, Mikaela, Andrew, Gethin, Conner, Maggie, Attila, Rudy, Ty, Charlotte, Grace, Blake, Hadley, Lyla and Maya; and his great-great grandchild, Malak Kurtz. A viewing will be held on Saturday October 30, 2021, from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M., at Colonial Park United Church of Christ, 5000 Devonshire Road, Harrisburg. The funeral service, officiated by Rev. Cindy Garis, will begin at 11:00 A.M. and will be followed by a luncheon. Interment in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens will be private for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group, 175 Briarwood Lane, Carlisle, PA 17015 (www.cpadsag.com) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org). The Rudy family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the Homeland Center for the amazing support and care they provided to Don.