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LYMAN "BUD" Wanted to have his obituary say only "The old geezer croaked," but his life should be shared. He was a resident of Albuquerque from 1945 until he passed away on July 12, 2012. He was born in Theodore, Alabama, in 1924, a farm boy who got his first shoes in high school. At age 18, while a freshman at Auburn, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He flew his 20th mission on his 20th birthday, the youngest bomber pilot in action during WWII. He flew the B-24 bomber "Little Lulu," which he once landed against all odds after being shot up and losing one engine, saving all six people on-board. He completed his tour of 35 missions in the 8th Air Force, flying out of England over Germany and France. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, several oak leaf clusters with numerous Air Medals, and battle stars. After WWII he moved to Albuquerque with the Air Force. He completed his education at the University of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1949. He was called up for the Korean War, during which he flew 100 missions in a P-51 Mustang. After Korea, he flew most of the planes that the Air Force offered including the F-80 Shooting Star, and the F-100, the first super-sonic plane. "Bheudo,"as he was known to his buddies, joined the New Mexico National Guard 188th as a Major in 1963, and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1972. From 1951-68, he was married to Carolyn Koch; they had four children. In 1963, he was made Vice President of the Southwest Insurance Agency in Albuquerque; later becoming president and owner. He retired in his late 70's. As a young man he served as President of the Jaycees. He was the head of the Civilian Aviation Board in the 1960's, during which time he brought the first lawsuit against the FAA and succeeded in bringing about deregulation of airline service for Albuquerque. He was a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society and the Quiet Birdmen (QBs), a pilots-only organization. He is survived by his family: son Greg FryeWeaver and wife Nancy of Albuquerque; daughter Jennifer Weaver of Albuquerque; son Kevin Weaver of Bellingham, Washington; son Matthew Weaver and wife Alba of Oklahoma City; granddaughter and husband Addie FryeWeaver and Walter Duran of Albuquerque; granddaughter and husband Caitlin and Danny Anello of Omaha, Nebraska; granddaughter Sophia Weaver of Oklahoma City; grandson Wyatt and granddaughter Emily Weaver of Bellingham; and grandson Kellen Weaver and great-granddaughter Kiana of Taos. He is also survived by many loyal friends and Air Force and veteran buddies. Bud put up a hard fight against cancer, and passed peacefully to heaven with his loved ones at hand. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. The family wishes to thank Bud's friends, the caring staff at the VA Hospital, Ambercare Hospice, and especially the excellent staff of Andrew House Assisted Living. A graveside military service will take place on Friday, July 20, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. To attend, please arrive at 10:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at: www.alz.org. Please visit our online guestbook for "Bud" at: RememberTheirStory.com FRENCH 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
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