Rufus Elmer “Punk” VanDevender,

Rufus Elmer “Punk” VanDevender, age 89, passed in peace surrounded by his loving family on Friday, November 19, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital—Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mississippi, after an eleven-day battle with double pneumonia. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, November 21 in the Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Fred Frazier, Jr. and Bro. Gerald Butler officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service from 1 p.m. until service time at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville. Interment will immediately follow the service in Butler Cemetery in Noxubee County.

Punk was born April 17, 1932, in Winston County, Mississippi. He was the beloved husband and best friend to the love of his life for 67 years, Dean Higginbotham VanDevender. Together they raised their only child, Ronnie VanDevender. He was a member of the old established Ebenezer Pentecostal Church.

After marriage, Punk worked at Taylor Machine Works until 1982 when he and his son, Ronnie, established Van’s Logging, Inc. Punk, also known as “Paw” was known for his strong work ethic. After his retirement, he kept busy on the farm and produced a garden each year which he enjoyed sharing with friends and family.

Punk’s hobbies included hunting, attending church, playing guitar, and playing and singing Blue Grass Gospel at church gatherings and other events. His favorite audience however was his two great-granddaughters.

Punk is survived by his loving wife Dean Higginbotham VanDevender of Preston, Mississippi, and by his son Ronnie VanDevender and wife Pattie of Louisville. One of his greatest joys was being “Paw” to his two grandsons Coty (Emily) VanDevender and Zack VanDevender as well as his two great-granddaughters Avey Clayton and Veda Dean VanDevender and was looking forward to the birth of a third great-grandchild in March 2022. He is also survived by his sister Earnesteen Lee and his brother Elvis VanDevender as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends. Punk is preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings Pennsylvania Clark, Christine Clark, Bob VanDevender, and Elvin VanDevender.

Serving as pallbearers are Coty VanDevender, Zack VanDevender, Bud Clark, Joe Clark, Eddie Coleman, Gene Moore, Ricky Patterson, and Billy “Moses” Vernon. Honorary pallbearers are Glen Clark and Larry Walker.

Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.