George D. Buda Sr.

June 3, 2013

George Douglas Buda Sr., passed away Monday, June 3, 2013 at the Lakebridge Health Care Center after a short stay. He had previously been a patient in the Veterans Administration CLC hospice unit for ten months with a lengthy illness. George was born in 1930 in Johnson City and lived his early years in Miami, Florida. He was proud of his Albanian ancestry, being born to immigrants John Lucas Buda and Ethina Papajannis Buda. His parents preceded him in death along with his sister, Anna Buda Gilley. George graduated from Science Hill High School and ETSU with a BA degree in music and history, a MA degree in school supervision and 48 hours of doctoral work in school administration. His schooling was interrupted by a tour of duty in the U.S Army during the Korean Conflict. George was trained as a Signal Corpsman and was a percussionist with the Army Field Band and Jazz Quintet at Fort Knox, KY and Fort Gordon, GA. He has also been a percussionist with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. George retired from his teaching career having worked with his mentor, Warren Weddle at North Junior High and Science Hill High Schools. Later he worked for many years as a band instructor for Washington County Schools. He was a drummer for many local bands in the area, including the Butch Swanay Quintet, Charles Goodwin Band, Al Bryan, Joe Henley and Marion and Nell Mercer at the Old Country Kitchen. George was a life long Episcopalian but had attended Thankful Baptist Church for the past 19 years. He his survived by his wife, Wanda Huffine Buda; two sons, George Douglas Buda and wife, Virginia of Johnson City and John Byron Buda and wife, Wenhui Li of Santa Monica, CA; five grandchildren, James, Sophia and Claire of Santa Monica, and Miles and London of Johnson City; two nieces, Laura Gilley Cox and husband, Clay, Johnson City and Della Economy Bryant and husband, Mark of Roanoke, VA; a nephew, Mark Gilley and wife, Angie of Sumpter, SC; a half brother, Suttie Economy of Roanoke; The Buda's have a large extended family including Jeff and Patty Estes, Jay Joseph and family, Katie Hoffman and Brett Tiller, Kelly Tester, Kristie and David Ottinger, Anne and Ty Jennings and special caregivers, Deborah Jackson and Annette Stephens. Funeral services for Mr. Buda will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 8, 2013 in the Appalachian Funeral Home, 800 E. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City with the Rev. C. Danny Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Monte Vista Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Jeff Estes, Jay Joseph, David Ottinger, Tyrone Jennings, Don Johnson, Clay Fox and Mark Fagelson. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Potter, Everett Gilley, Mark Gilley, Larry Huffine, Kenny Huffine, Earl Maden and Charlie Cross. The family will greet friends at the funeral home Saturday from 12:30 until 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Thankful Baptist Church Music Department, 1501 E. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City, TN 37601 or to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4444, Pittsfield, MA 01202-4444. The family wishes to thank the caring staff of the VA Hospital and especially the Spinal Cord Unit of the CLC, including the Hospice Care personnel as well as Amedisys Home Care with Susan and Kristie. Visitation: Saturday June 8 2013 - 12:30 to 2:00 PM Services: Saturday - 2:00 PM Appalachian Funeral Home Interment: Monte Vista Memorial ParkN