James Rudolph "Rudy" Pilkerton, 79, of Leonardtown, MD formerly from Mechanicsville, MD passed away on August 17, 2013 in Leonardtown, MD. Born on December 22, 1933 in Mechanicsville-Trent Hall Farm, he was the son of the late Zachariah and Matilda Rencher Pilkerton.

Rudy was the loving husband of Linda Mae Adams Pilkerton, whom he married on August 7, 1965 in St. Georges Church, Valley Lee, MD.

James is survived by his children; Thomas Pilkerton and John Keaton both of Leonardtown, MD., Kimberly Phillips of Lexington Park, MD., and Mark Schoenwetter of Nashville, TN., and 2 grandchildren. Rudy is also survived by his siblings; Mildred Wood, Mary C. Stone, L. Woodrow Hill, Ellen Hewitt, Thomas Hill, Patricia Wood, Theodore Sydnor, Michael Hill Gladys Long, Mildred Hall, Sandra Guy, and Kathleen Hindt.

James is preceded in death by his son Anthony Rudolph Pilkerton, siblings; Edna Thompson, Ignatius Pilkerton, Henry Pilkerton, Theodora Grinder, Lillian Hill, Bernard Pilkerton, Margaret Wood, Gladys Baltimore, Martha Pribble, Pauleen Nagle, Martin Pilkerton, and Joseph Hill.

Rudy was a farmer and worked on his family farm in Leonardtown, MD for 60 years retiring in October of 2009. He was a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County and enjoyed farming, fishing, horseshoes, gardening, dancing to country music, joking and reminiscing about the past.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM, followed by the Knights of Columbus prayers in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM in Our Lady's Catholic Church, Leonardtown, MD with Father Bob Kosty officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Mike Hill, Allen Quade, Johnathan Lachkovic, Mike Abell, Arnold Goldsborough, and Ron Vause.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Mary's P.O. Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or the Leonardtown Vol. Rescue Squad P.O. Box 299 Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.