| Notes |
- 1940 Federal Census of Suwannee County, Florida (April 11, 1940)
Andrew J. Bass Jr. - 42 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Head - Owner Manager Farm
Alma - 35 - Female - FL-FL-FL - Wife - Housekeeping
Curtis - 19 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Theron - 17 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Claude - 14 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Winton - 12 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Bettie - 7 - Female - Fl-FL-FL - Daughter
Thos. D. - 4 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Andrew J. III - 1 - Male - FL-FL-FL - Son
Suwannee Democrat
Live Oak, Florida
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Thomas D. Bass
Thomas D. "Buddy" Bass of Suwannee County died peacefully in his sleep at his home on December 24, 2016 following a lengthy illness. In the months and weeks prior to his passing, Buddy had been surrounded by family, friends, and caregivers, and his heart was full of love and faith despite his failing body. Buddy leaves behind his devoted wife of nearly 60 years, Vivian Bernheim Bass; children Teresa Bass Vidrine (Grant), Thomas Bass, Jr. (Betsy), and Peri Bass Pinto (Keith); grandchildren Thomas McKinley Bass (Erin), Jay Vidrine (Isabel), Benjamin Bass, Eric Vidrine (Courtney), Christopher Pinto (Jill), Rachel Pinto O'Reilly (Colin), Ethan Thomas Pinto, Ryan Vidrine (Christina), and Katelin Pinto; and great-grandchildren Rylee Bass, Caleb and Sofia Vidrine, Kieran and Lary Quinn O'Reilly, and Alexandria Pinto; sister Betty Jones, brother Andrew J. Bass III, sisters-in-law Barbara (Bernheim) Gustafson, Betty (Linton) Bernheim, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by beloved infant son William Andrew Bass, brothers Curtis, Theron, Claude Reece, and Winton Bass, mother Alma Law Bass, and father Andrew J. Bass, Jr. Following his graduation from Suwannee High School in 1952, Buddy pursued his childhood dream of flying and was accepted into the competitive Aviation Cadets training program of the United States Air Force where he became a pilot. His 20 plus year career as an aviator fueled a lifetime of fascinating stories of his experiences flying the F86, F100, B52, and F111B. His distinguished career included flying over 200 B52 bomb run missions over Viet Nam, becoming Chief of the First Combat Evaluation Group for the F111B and receiving numerous commendations and awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Ribbon with bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon. For Buddy, the sheer joy of flying was reward enough, and he loved to share that pleasure by taking friends and family for Cessna flights from the Suwannee County airport. In addition to flying, Buddy enjoyed a love of the outdoors where he hunted, fished, played golf, coached Little League, water skied, bird-watched, piddled at gardening, played with his grandchildren, and tossed a ball for his numerous much-loved dogs throughout the years. His love of nature was also expressed through his artistic talents of wood carving of which his favorite subject was ducks and oil painting through which he depicted his fondness for both the Suwannee and Kenai (Alaska) Rivers where he boated and fished for catfish and salmon respectively. Buddy loved to make people laugh, and he joked, played games, and told stories right up until the end. He was serious about being grateful to His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, however, and found that this faith was fed most fully through his attendance at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and in his nightly prayers and Bible readings with his faith-filled wife, Vivian. His favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace," was the anthem of his life as he indeed was once lost but became found. It was his love of flying that helped him find his faith, and the words of his favorite poem say it all. Daniels Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., of Live Oak and Branford, Florida, is in charge of arrangements.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1934 - 2016 (82 years)