BUFTON EARL L

COL Earl L. Bufton was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 08/08/2002 at the age of 61.0
Tallahassee, FL
Date of Birth 08/16/1941
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
Served in Vietnam with HMM-263
This information was provided by Barry Geller

More detail on this person: Col. Earl L. Bufton Jr., USMC (Ret.),60, of Tallahassee, Fla., died there Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002. Services: 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee. Burial: Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Va. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home Riggins Road Chapel, Tallahassee.

Born in Webster City, Iowa, he earned a B.S. degree in business administration and a M.S. degree in business.

Col. Bufton retired from active service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992, after completing 29 years of active duty. Among his many tours of duty include two combat tours in Vietnam, a pilot with the Presidential Helicopter Squadron and commanding officer of HMH-361, a CH-53 helicopter squadron. Col. Bufton held the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with numeral 33, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat V, Presidential Service Badge and Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

After the service, he worked in the private sector before moving to Tallahassee, Fla., where he began work as Inspector General for the Office of Banking and Finance for the state of Florida. Subsequently, Col. Bufton was appointed deputy comptroller for the Office of Banking and Finance. He was a member of Fellowship Presbyterian Church, USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association and served as president of the Killearn Kiwanis.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Sara Dowse and husband Dan; sons, Brian and wife Jeanie and John; mother, Velna of Dubuque, Iowa; sister, Beverly Haberman and husband Earl of Dubuque; five grandchildren, four nieces and a nephew.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 or Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 3158 S. Shamrock St., Tallahassee, FL 32309.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025