Willis "Bud" Irving Brown, age 91, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 in Tyler, Texas. He was born on Wednesday, February 16, 1921 in Denver, Colorado to the late Lewis and Lillian Brown. He married Frances Faughtenbery in 1945 in De Queen, Arkansas. Together they lived in Aurora, Colorado; Overton, Texas and Mineola, Texas. Frances preceded him in death in 1986.

Bud served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a radio operator and crew chief on C-47 aircraft nicknamed "The Osprey", flying missions in Northern Africa, Germany, France and Italy. He took part in D-Day, staging from England and flying multiple missions over France. After returning from Europe, he resumed his career with Safeway as a manager, buyer and inventory crew chief. He also owned and operated Brown's Grocery and Mobile Station in Overton, Texas. He retired from Lilly Food Sales in Mineola in 1986.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Dick.

He is survived by two sons, John and wife Sandra of Forney, Texas and Gerry and wife Tricia of Whitehouse, Texas. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services for Bud Brown will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Mineola, Texas at 2:00 PM under the direction of Beaty Funeral Home. Reverend Jim Smithes of BeeWorld Ministries will officiate.

The family would like to thank the staff of Garden Estates Assisted Living Center and Heart to Heart hospice for their care and compassion.