The Shadow
MADISON, W.Va. – Arthur Reginald (Bud) Estes, 86, of Madison, W.Va., died April 19, 2010 in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, W.Va.
He was born in Clifton Forge May 13, 1923, the son of the late Livonia Edwin Estes and Lula Williams Estes and attended Clifton Forge schools.
As a member of the Virginia National Guard, Bud was called into active service in 1939 and served in the Costal Artillery rising to the rank of Sergeant and volunteered to be transferred to the 101st Airborne Division H Company 3rd Battalion 506th PIR as a Platoon Sergeant.
He jumped with a group of men known as “The Forty Thieves.” Bud was a paratrooper at Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, where he was dropped behind enemy lines and was captured after several hours of fighting and spent 11 months as a German POW.
He was a life member of the American Legion Post 140, New Haven, W.Va. and the American Ex-POW Association.
He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division Association, VFW Post 5578, Madison, W.Va., Disabled American Veterans and the Boone County AARP Chapter 4520.
He was also a member of the Nitro Masonic Lodge, Master Mason; Alleghany Commandry No. 23; Alleghany Royal Arch of Masons, Chapter 24; Kazim Shrine in Roanoke and the Clifton Forge Shrine Club.
Bud retired from American Electric Power (River Division) as a Chief Engineer and was a member of IBEW.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lelia Estes Walton King in 2005; a special nephew, Chalmer C. Walton III in 2009; a great-nephew, Chalmer C. Walton IV in 2008; two half-brothers and one half-sister.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonelva (Bunny) Bradley Estes of Madison, W.Va.; daughters Beverly Brideoux of Austin, Texas, Darlene Barry of Port Haywood, and Stephanie Shahbandy of Charleston, W.Va.; four grandchildren, Captian Kriket S. Holley, USMC, Temecula, Calif., Chloe Talbot, Austin, Texas; Sabriyah and Samira Shahbandy of Charleston, W.Va.; and great-grandchildren, Cypher and Bastian Holley of Temecula, Calif. He is also survived by a sister, Livonia (Sugie) Caldwell of Clifton Forge along with nieces and nephews, Cindy Curtis and her husband, Carlos, Jack Walton and his wife, Karen, Dickie Walton and his wife, Linda; and Alice Walton, all of Clifton Forge.
Bud was a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.
A memorial service was held Monday, April 26, 2010 at 11 a.m. at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Charleston with the Rev. Richard Mahan presiding.
A graveside service of Christian burial will be held Friday at Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Thomas McHenry officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 108 Turner Road, Clifton Forge.
