Leonard “Bud” Sills Jr, age 76, passed away at 8:58 am, Thursday, December 14, 2017 at his home following an illness.
Bud was born March 26, 1941 to Leonard B Sills Sr and Lola Severs Sills in Quapaw, OK.
In 1960 he married Beverly Vaughn. To this union, two daughters were born; Debbie Sills Wofford and Julie Sills Sams.
In June, 1990, he married Victoria Harreld Wilson and he gained two more daughters; Kim Wilson and Teresa Wilson Freeman.
He entered his military career in 1960. He was planning a 20-year career but that was cut short after 10 years. While in Vietnam, on July 1, 1968, he stepped on a land mine, and received extensive wounds. He was retired in 1970 with two Purple Hearts, a Navy Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Mast Medal, as well as Good Conduct Medal.
He became employed at FAG bearing, Joplin, MO and worked there for 10 years. He later worked for 12 years as the Galena City Superintendent, retiring in 2000.
He had attended Forrest Park Baptist Church, Joplin, MO. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. His favorite pastime was doing anything mechanical in his shop. He was an exceptional husband, father, and grandad.
Surviving is his wife, Victoria Sills, of the home; daughters, Debbie Woffard, and husband, Jack of Oologah OK, Julie Sams and husband, Todd of Oolagah, OK, Kim Wilson of Joplin, MO, and Teresa Freeman of Galena, KS; 6 grandchildren, Courtney Woffard, Kelly Czapansky, Shiloh Sams, Max Freeman, Gabriel Freeman, and Madison Freeman; one great-granddaughter, Georgina Czapansky; two brothers, Darrel, “Otto” Sills, Joplin, MO, and Ted Sills, Augusta, KS; and 5 sisters, Phyllis Willdermood, Climax Springs, MO, Doris Taber, Frontenac, KS, Beverly Dunn, Columbus, KS, Gayle Ludlum, Navarone, FL, and June Thompson, Baxter Springs, KS.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ralph Sills, and Billy Sills, and three sisters, Judy Slimp, Sharon Williams, and Glenda Sills.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Derfelt Funeral Home Galena, KS. Pastor Jeff D Martin will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena, KS.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Monday, December 18, 2017 at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS.
Bud Sills drove my bus in the bus ministry when I was a little girl. I will never forget the love and kindness he and Beverly extended to me. Thank you, Bud. I’ll see you later.
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