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Archie Leon Hudson, affectionately known as "Pop" passed away in Anniston, Alabama on December 31, 2024. Memorial services will be held at Miller Funeral Home in Anniston, Alabama on Friday, January 3rd at 11:00am. Leon was born on September 28 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Eula and Archie Hudson. He was the youngest of three boys, his older brothers being Bob and Bill. He went to school in Stillwell, Oklahoma and also in Colorado, where he graduated High School. While living in Littlefield Tx and dragging main street with his friends and cousins, he met his first wife, Virginia "Kay" Sanders. Being the small town that it was, his cousins knew her cousins and while they were taking a short stop at the Dairy Queen, they were introduced. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served in the Vietnam War and then the Army reserves. During his service in the Army, he worked as a mechanic and received recognition for expert Rifle M14; received the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1966 and the reserves in 1969. Leon and Kay married in July 1966 at Springlake, Tx at her mother and fathers house. Eventually they would move to Oklahoma and lived there for many years before moving to Amarillo to settle down and start a family. In 1977 they adopted their first child, Sheila and then the adoption of Scott followed in 1979. Leon was a devoted father, working hard to provide for his family. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and loved teaching those boys all he had learned while in the Army and living in the wooded areas of Oklahoma. He and Kay would go square dancing on the weekends and he also enjoyed going with 2 other families on yearly camping trips to Greenbelt Lake. Leon was a jack of all trades, but had a speciality when it came to being a mechanic. He worked at the WarrenCAT Caterpillar dealership or "CAT House" as he called it, for 20 years and was also a diesel mechanic instructor at TSTI (Texas State Technical Institute). He was also a bus driver for Trailways Bus Company and then a long haul truck driver. Leon and Kay divorced in 1998 and he later married Peggy Hamilton. They celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in October 2024. Leon and Peggy were long haul truck drivers together, driving all over and stopping to see kids and grandkids on their journeys. After their truck driving days, they lived on Lopez Island in Washington State and then eventually settled in Anniston, Alabama. Leon loved to read books and was a huge fan of western authors like Louis L'amour and Zane Grey. He was also an accomplished leather maker. He would make belts, billfolds, you name it; he even had cards printed for his "Hillbilly Leathercrafter" business. Leon was a great "Pop" to all of his grandkids and great-grandkids. Talking about Pop sparked fun memories of going to Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma every year for the 4th of July; fishing and then learning how to clean those fish. The yearly trips to the lake were what they looked forward to the most. He loved to show his grandkids things, teach them; among those was teaching his oldest grandson how to drive a stick shift. They also remember him as not knowing a stranger, he would talk to anyone about anything, so be prepared to be there a while, because he could talk! He was a devout Christian, finding a church home wherever they lived. Sundays weren't just for sermons for Leon, they were for seeing familiar faces and sharing the love of Christ. Leon is preceded in death by his mother, father and older sibling, Bill. He is survived by his wife Peggy Hudson of Anniston; his daughter, Sheila Lopez of Amarillo; son, Scott Hudson of Amarillo; his grandchildren Anthony, Monica and Nathan Lopez; Autumn and Cameron Hudson; and 4 great-grandchildren, Penelope, Delilah, Asher and Elleanor. He is also survived by his stepsons, Robert Hamilton of Anniston; Greg and wife Rebecca Hamilton of Washington State; and two grandchildren, Reece and Kelsea and also many loving family members and friends.

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Mr. Archie Leon Hudson

September 28, 1943 - December 31, 2024