Sorden Jr., George L. 'Bud'

George L. “Bud” Sorden Jr. passed away Nov. 6, 2013, at his home in rural South English from cancer.

He was born in San Diego, Calif., on March 13, 1939, the son of George L. and Dorothy L. Barker Sorden. He moved to Iowa with his parents and later moved to Albuquerque, N.M., as a child. Bud grew up near an Army Air Base where his father worked Civil Service after spending four years in the U.S. Navy. He found his love of airplanes there, learning to identify them by their sound in the air.

In 1944, he moved back to Iowa. He attended all his schooling at Webster Consolidated School in Webster, graduating in the school's last class in 1956. On Feb. 21, 1959, Bud married his school sweetheart, Elaine E. Wemer, in Webster. To this union three children were born: Ray D., John B. and Julie M.

In 1961, he started flying. In 1962, Bud obtained his private license and in 1963, his commercial ticket. He then acquired thousands of hours in the air, flying ferry flights for dealers, some spraying and as a charter pilot for Solar Homes. Bud owned 17 different airplanes, his favorite being a 1940 Meyers OTW, a World War II biplane. In 2012, Bud received the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration for over 50 consecutive years of safe aircraft flight.

Bud was active as a Boy Scout leader, providing hunter safety programs and taking many young people on airplane rides. He collected old Allis Chalmers tractors and machinery. In 1984, along with his wife and the late Shorty Edmundson, he formed Flying Eagle Ministries, taking food and clothing to the needy in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky.

Virtually all of his life was spent in the Webster community, moving from the Sorden farm, north of Webster, in 1969, to his present residence. Bud spent most of his life farming and OTR truck driving.

His interests were his family, flying, hunting, fishing and conservation. He was an active member of Hilltop Chapel, Experimental Aircraft Association, a lifetime member of Antique Aircraft Association, and a member of Allis Connection. Bud was president of Sorden Cemetery Association, a past member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, president of Webster High School Alumni and was on the board of the Keokuk County Historical Society.

Bud is survived by his wife, Elaine; son, John (Betty) Sorden of Webster; daughter, Julie Sorden and Richard Buehenman of South English; grandchildren, Renee (Lenny) Winn of Rochester, Iowa, Sasha (Josh) Hoylman of South English, Chastity (Quenten) Offerman of North English, Timber Sorden of North English, Brett Buehenman of Monroe, Iowa, and Annie Jayne (Nick) Hol of Beacon, Iowa; 14 great-grandchildren: his mother, Dorothy Sorden of North English; sister, Donna (Raymond) Gent of South English; and special friends, Keith and Marlene Leinenweaver of South English.

Bud was preceded in death by his father, George L. Sorden Sr.; and a son, Roy.

A Going Home Celebration will be held at Hilltop Chapel in What Cheer at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. Pastor John DeBoef will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Powell Funeral Home in North English. Burial will in Sorden Cemetery near Webster.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests using a general memorial fund or donating to the Antique Airfield Association in Blakesburg, Iowa.

Memorials and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.

Published Nov. 8, 2013 in The Gazette