Col. Roddy Busbee, Usaf (Ret.)

Col. Roderick “Roddy” M. Busbee, USAF (Ret.) 70, died Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, November 15 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Warner Robins. Interment will follow the service at 1:30 in Andersonville National Cemetery. The family will receive friends all day Thursday at their residence, 505 Wexford Circle, Bonaire. Memorials may be made to the Gateway Cottage, 2764 Watson Blvd., Centerville, GA 31028 or the Trinity United Methodist Church Building Fund, 129 S. Houston Rd., Warner Robins, GA 31088.

Col. Busbee was born in Vienna, GA. He began his Air Force career in 1953, after receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Air Force ROTC commission from the University of Georgia. After completing pilot training he served his first operational assignment in Korea. Upon returning to the states he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command, flying the B-47 and the B-52 aircrafts. He flew 194 combat missions during the Vietnam conflict. He received numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal, and the Outstanding Unit Award. His job assignments have included: Chief of Wing Standardization Evaluation Division, Squadron Operations Officer, B-52 Squadron Commander, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations - 19th Bomb Wing, and Field Maintenance Squadron Commander - 19th Bomb Wing, Deputy Base Commander - 509th Combat Support Group and Deputy Commander for Resource Management - 509th Bomb Wing.

A member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Col. Busbee was a past chairman of the Administration Board and a member of the Hope Sunday School Class. He was an active member and a past president of the Warner Robins Rotary Club. A past president of the Houston County Home Builders Association, he also served on the board at Gateway and the Salvation Army. He served on the Commission of Organized Crime under past President Ronald Reagan. His parents, Perry and Nell Busbee, Sr., preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Earline Busbee, Bonaire; daughters, Debbie Crump, Fort Valley, Paula Hillerud, Mansfield, TX; son, Rick Busbee, Acworth, GA; brothers, Dr. Perry Busbee, Cordele, Gov. George Busbee, Duluth; sisters, Jane Turton, Cordele, June Coley, Vienna.

McCullough Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.




Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Road
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088