John Rudolph, a successful entrepreneur, community leader and family man who heralded Lima, Ohio-based Rudolph Foods Corp. from making pork rinds to a global snack leader, died on April 16 at age 88, after a struggle with health issues.
Rudolph served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following the war, he graduated from Bowling Green University, married and moved to Lima, Ohio, where he launched Rudolph Foods in 1955. He never retired and stayed involved in the business, going to the office within the last few weeks of his life.