Claude H. "Bud" McCloud, age 87, of Bristol, Virginia died Thursday, January 6, 2011, at Franklin Woods Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. He was born in Lebanon, Virginia, the son of George M. and Sylvia Puckett McCloud.
After graduating from Lebanon High School, Bud enlisted in the Army Air Corp and was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon returning home to Virginia, he was employed by the Virginia Department of Highways, where he worked for 45 years. During the later part of his career, he was the resident engineer at the Abingdon Residence office.
He was a charter member of Midway Baptist Church, and helped to build the current church. He served as a deacon for over 40 years and was active at the Brumley Cove RA Baptist Camp. He had a special place in his heart for children and was affectionately know as "the candy man" by the children who attended Midway Baptist Church.
Bud's sense of humor was well known and he never passed up an opportunity to tell a joke or tease someone.
He participated on the Lebanon baseball team and was well respected for his ability to play second base and his aggressive playing style.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, George M. McCloud, Jr. and Cecil McCloud, and four sisters, Ruth Orr, Wilma Bostic, Elizabeth Lambert, and Virginia Roark.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Freeda Bartley McCloud; four sons, Michael and wife Linda, James and wife Brenda, Danny (Butch) and wife Barbara, and Jeff and wife Shannon; three daughters, Susan Griffith and husband Billy, Liesa Estep and husband Dan and Christa Shannon and husband Casey; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one brother, Jim McCloud and wife Betty and two sisters, Peggy Page and Betty Jo Coley and husband David. He is also survived by special friends and neighbors Ron and Joan Harrington, Roger and Peggy Duff and the Midway Baptist Church Family.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the emergency room and ICU staff of Franklin Woods Medical Center for the kindness shown and tender care given to our father. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Midway Baptist Church, Bristol, VA.
Funeral services for Bud McCloud will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Midway Baptist Church in Bristol with Pastor Dexter Terry officiating. Committal services will follow at the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Deacons of Midway Baptist Church will serve as pallbearers. His grandchildren are his honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Chapel at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA, near the Virginia Highlands Airport.