Dec. 23, 1927 - July 6, 2013

OSCEOLA — Willard M. "Bud" Allen, 85, of Osceola, passed away Saturday, July 6, 2013, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.

He was born Dec. 23, 1927, in Hominy, Okla., to Jack Willard and Ruth Alice (Salisbury) Allen. On Nov. 13, 1959, he married the love of his life, Virginia E. (Hohl) Allen, in South Bend.

In addition to his wife, survivors include three daughters, Mary (Mason) Murphy of Crown Point, Alice (Keith) Allen-Evans of Howe and Stacey (Dan) Spencer of Elkhart; son Tim Allen of Osceola; three brothers, Floyd Allen of Savanah, Ga., Stephen (Frances) Allen of Gravette, Ark., and James (Jean) Allen of Elkhart; three sisters, Mildred Crafford of Elkhart, and Nedra (Rolan) Anderson and Cathy Mills, both of Springdale, Ark.; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clare and Roy Allen; two sisters, Erma Hendry and Barbara Brown; and a grandson, Jeffrey Spencer.

Bud served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Bud worked as a truck driver for many years and was most recently employed with Direct Transit Lines for nearly 11 years prior to retirement.

He enjoyed spending time working in his yard, watching his birds, sitting on the patio with his puppy and, most of all, spending time with the grandchildren.

The family will receive friends for two hours prior to the 2 p.m. funeral service Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Pastor Nancy Warren will officiate. Cremation will follow at Altera Cremation Services and his cremated remains will be placed in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

---