Harry Leonard "Buck" Brundridge

Harry Leonard "Buck" Brundridge age 79, of Hermitage, Mo., passed away at his home on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, following a lengthy illness. He was born on Nov. 15, 1926, in Vernon County, to William Cleveland and Mary Edna Brundridge. He married Wilma Geneva Walker, on Aug. 2, 1947, who survives of the home.

Harry Leonard or "Buck" as he was known to family and friends was born and reared in Vernon County and after a brief employment in a shipyard in Seneca, Ill., enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He participated in several amphibious landings in the Pacific during World War II, working mostly with the Australian Army as a communication specialist. After World War II he re-enlisted in the Navy and served aboard several ships. At the time the Korean War erupted he was aboard the Aircraft Carrier Phillippine Sea providing air support for the U.S. Forces in Korea.

On Jan. 1, 1960 he was commissioned an Ensign from the enlisted ranks as an operation/communication specialist and served as operation officer and navigator aboard the heavy hull repair ship Klondike for two years. This was followed by tours as communications officer, naval weapons station, China Lake, Calif.; naval communication station, Guam; operations officer and later executive officer, naval comunications project officer. His last tour was as communication/electronics adviser to the Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok, Thailand, where he remained until his retirement as lieutenant commander on Aug. 1, 1972.

In 1973 he returned to school for one year to supplement his highter education commenced and carried on over his years of active duty. He then accepted a position with the city of Flagstaff, Ariz., where he remained until June of 1977, when he resigned to teach a technical course in environmental engineering at Yavapai College, Prescott, Ariz. When this contract expired he retired in full to beautiful Hermitage, where he enjoyed his hobbies of family genealogical research, hunting, fishing, square dancing, line dancing, amateur radio, and his computer. He enjoyed helping his daughter, Carol train her search and rescue dogs. He enjoyed his time spent on fishing trips with his brother, Joe to Canada and Arkansas.

He is survived by two sons, Harry "Bucky" Leonard Jr. and his wife Grace, William Eugene and wife Carrie; and one daughter, Carol Ann and husband Steve; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Sisters and brothers surviving are Ruby Cook, Weeki,Wachee, Fla., Freada Fleming, Fort Scott, Kan., Doris Quackenbush, Nevada, Peggy Smith, Boulder, Colo., Joe Brundridge, Kansas City, Mo.; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Harry Wesley in 1971, and Cecil Dean in 1948.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m., at the Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home, Wheatland, Mo., with full military honors. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m., at Virgil City Cemetery, El Dorado Springs.