MYRON PUDWILL

Myron Lee Pudwill, 86, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on October 7, 2025, at Cedar Creek Memory Care. He was born on March 23, 1939, in Avon to Otto and Ella (Johnson) Pudwill. Myron attended public school in Avon and graduated from high school in 1957. He went on to the University of South Dakota, then earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (COD) in 1964. A lifelong follower of Christ, he accepted Jesus and was baptized at Avon First Baptist Church in 1951. In 1957, a mutual friend introduced Myron to Sue Ludens. The two were married on June 10, 1959, and honeymooned in the Black Hills. They welcomed their daughter, Tammy, in June of 1960. That same year, they moved to Lincoln for Myron to begin dental school (working evenings at Four Star Drug). In 1961, he joined the U.S. Navy while in dental school, completing Officer Candidate School during the summer. After graduating in 1964, he served a dental internship at the Navy Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, while living in Gloucester, NJ. In 1965, he was stationed aboard the USS Gilmore, a submarine tender homeported in Charleston, SC, where their son Mark was born in 1966. After three years of active duty, Myron resigned his Navy commission in 1967 as a Captain and continued in the U.S. Navy Reserve until 1991. That same year, he joined the COD faculty in Lincoln as an Instructor in the Adult Restorative Department and later became Associate Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs. He earned his Master’s in Prosthetics in 1973 while teaching and maintaining a part-time private practice. From 1973–1978, he worked with the Dentistry for the Handicapped Program. Myron retired from private practice in 1996 and from teaching in 2005, but continued part-time at the college until 2018. He received several teaching awards during his tenure. He also served as a Central Regional Dental Examiner, administering licensure exams nationwide. Dr. Pudwill was deeply involved in organized dentistry. He held numerous leadership roles locally, statewide, and nationally, serving as 10th District Trustee of the American Dental Association (ADA) from 1996–2000. He was also active in the FDI World Dental Federation, traveling globally with Sue from 1998–2008 and building friendships around the world. For 61 years, Myron was a devoted member of Second Baptist Church in Lincoln, where he served in many leadership positions and taught Sunday School. His faith and church community were central to his life. A lifelong car enthusiast, Myron restored a 1925 Model T Ford twice, once with his father before marriage and again in 2008. He also owned and maintained a 1928 Model A Coupe with a rumble seat and a 1967 Mustang convertible. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Donna (Dr. Richard) Codd; in-laws Walter and Grace Ludens; brother-in-law Clarence (Gertrude) Ludens; brother-in-law Harold (Marjorie) Ludens; and nephew Tim (Jane) Codd. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Susan; daughter Tammy (Curt) Coughlin; son Mark Pudwill; grandsons Ryan (Kayla) Coughlin and Brendan (Natalee) Coughlin; and great-grandchildren Graham, Malcolm, Autumn, and Landon Coughlin. He is also survived by nephews and nieces: Mike (Nancee) Codd, Jeff (Gloria) Codd, Cynthia (Dave) Wooldridge, Tom (Tanya) Codd, Jane Codd (Tim’s wife), and many cousins. The memorial service was held Monday, October 13 at Second Baptist Church in Lincoln. Interment will be at Omaha National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Second Baptist Church, 525 N. 58th St., Lincoln, NE 68505, or the Myron and Susan Pudwill Scholarship Fund (University of Nebraska Foundation, UNMC College of Dentistry).