David (Bud) Noel Tedford, 97, resident of Sealy, for 22 years went to Heaven on Feb. 7, 2025. He was born in Iowa Park, on June 2, 1927. He grew up in Wichita Falls. He was raised by a single mom during the Great Depression era, the youngest of six siblings.

In October 1942, at age 15, he entered the Coast Guard as a Water Tender 1st Class during WWII. He was stationed on USS Prudent PG-96 (Action Class Gunboat) & USS WM. Weigel AP-119, WWII Atlantic & Pacific Theaters (Transporter ships), discharged in October 1945, at age 18.

In April 1946, Bud joined the Carpenters Union. He taught apprenticeship carpenters on the basics of building new homes in Santiago, Chile in 1957, at age 30. He worked on various carpentry projects in Reno, NV up until 1960.

He met Mary Taylor at a Bowling alley in Santa Maria, CA and they married in May 1960, in Las Vegas, NV. They moved to Santa Barbara, CA. An activity they enjoyed together was square dancing. They had two children, a daughter, Doree Ann, and a son, David Noel Tedford Jr. Bud studied and received his California contractor’s license. He built their first home and numerous other homes in Santa Barbara, CA. They moved to Orange County, CA and he worked as a Construction Engineer for JB Allen, the contractor that Disneyland selected to build the theme park in Anaheim, CA.

In 1972, they moved back to Texas to be closer to family and started a career in the Insurance industry and ended his working career with Delta Lloyd Insurance Agency, in Houston, TX until his retirement, at age 70.

Along with his wife, they attended the Christian Science Society, in Bellville, TX.

Bud is survived by his wife, Mary K. Tedford, Sealy, TX; daughter Doree Ann (Dayton) Hostetler, Kingston, WA; son, David Noel (Veronica) Tedford Jr., Corpus Christi, TX; two granddaughters, Lauren (Brian) Jack, Gig Harbor, WA; Sarah (Matt) Tutton, Corona Del Mar, CA; two grandsons, Jonathan Tedford, San Antonio, TX; Aaron Tedford, Corpus Christi, TX; four great-grandsons, Brooks, Wynn & Rhett Jack; Ford Tutton.

Bud has been a devoted husband of almost 65 years; a wonderful and loving father, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, father-in-law, and friend to so many. He will be remembered as enjoying puzzles, feeding the wildlife outside his man cave and no one maneuvered an electric shopping scooter in Walmart quite like Bud. Most of all, he loved having his whole family around.

Bud was indeed an example of the Greatest Generation. He was always a hard worker, self-taught, always highly motivated to provide for his beloved family. Bud will be dearly missed, loved, and always remembered. May he rest in Eternal peace.