A. L. " Bud " O'Neal peacefully passed from this earth at 5:01 p.m. Thursday February 23rd 2012. He was born May 6th 1928 in Springfield MO. Bud was preceded in death by the love of his life, Golden Delores McCullough O'Neal, his wife of 58 years. He is survived by his three children, Peggy Ridlen and her husband Michael Ridlen of St. Charles Mo, Patricia Schmidt and her husband John Schmidt of Springfield MO and James E. O'Neal and his wife Debbie of Springfield MO. He is also survived by one of his 6 siblings, Marjorie Davidson of Springfield MO, as well 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred L. O'Neal and Opal Clary O'Neal and 4 sisters and 1 brother. Our father did not wish for a public memorial. The family will have a private graveside service. Bud O'Neal cared first and foremost about family and friends. He started a job with Southwestern Bell in 1948. He thought at the time he would work perhaps 6 months there and then do something more to his liking. He retired from Ma Bell 35 years later. His real passion was "the art of the deal". Dad loved to buy or sell anything. Cars, knifes, coins, real estate, swap meets, anything that could be driven to a bargain. He once walked away from a car deal because the seller would not pay the 1$ repair for a side window. He placed his life's passion second to the welfare and responsibility for his wife and kids. His endeavors in retirement serve proof of the success he would have had financially as an entrepreneur, independent businessman, a self reliant man with odd but effective ingenuity and the ability to squeeze a nickel until the buffalo pee'd. He actually had the opportunity to buy all 4 corners of Cherry and Glenstone for 3000$ in the mid 50's. But the risk of dealing and losing prevented him trying to put the deal together. Risk was something adverse to my father. Having been raised by his Mother and siblings, the youngest of 7, in the depths of economic calamity that was the thirties and early forties, he had seen and experienced the true face of poverty. Evicted from their home, with all their belongings in a horse drawn wagon, his family was humiliated as neighbors and bystanders spit, throwing rotten vegetables at them, while shouting insults and epithets.The incredible anguish and fear that seared into his personality from that experience as a young child stayed with him for life. He vowed to never, ever let that happen to his family. The three of us were blessed to be brought up in a middle class environment, replete with the example of correct values and spirituality. We were by no means rich, but we wanted for nothing. We always had the comfort of a warm home, great food, nice clothes and loving parents who would make any sacrifice for our welfare and betterment. Grandpa Bud loved all his grandchildren and great grand children. His eyes would light up whenever he saw them. His great smile would come forth and he always made them laugh. He was a great teaser. If you were a friend of Buds' you had a good friend who would help you, work beside you, and be a loyal ally. One can tell a lot about a person by how they care for children and animals. Bud would never tolerate the suffering of a child, any child, or an animal. He adopted a stray cat with three toes, named him Tom and Tom still lives at the family home. We always had a dog and Bud loved them closely, cried when they died and was always ready to be a friend to another. This also rang true with the somewhat odd assortment of "affiliates" my father collected in retirement years. Renting low income housing has plenty of challenges, but my father doubled down by inviting some tenants of lesser repute to befriend him and come to his home. But Dad would go the extra mile on late rent, make sure people had something to eat and somehow had that historic empathetic connection from his childhood. Some were good and decent people and some just took advantage of him. Still his impoverished upbringing created a sensitivity for the working poor. He wound up hiring seemingly half the people who rented from him. And of course he fed them too. People think it is a joke but Bud said on more than one occasion, "If you're going to work them, you've got to feed them." Of course the real work of feeding them fell to my mother, like so many other issues. My father lived in the 1950's well past the 1990's. We understand that his was another time, a different place. So we learned another life lesson from our father, just not in as a conventional manner. It is most fitting that Peggy and Jim express immeasurable heartfelt gratitude for the consistent care and comfort our sister Patty brought to our father in his last years. Her management of the rental property and other assets in our fathers' name made it possible for him to be well cared for and live out his life with dignity. By doing so she fulfilled one of our fathers' unspoken but critical desires: to be self sufficient, self reliant and meet both our mother's and his needs in their final days. Neither of us could have done what you did, Patty. You were always there and made him happy. We thank you and love you beyond measure. So Dad, please know Peggy, Patty and Jim along with your 7 grandchildren and 6 great grand children will always realize we stand on your shoulders. We thank you for doing the best you could and will always remember your priorities for us and the sacrifices you made. Rest in heavenly peace and we'll see you again in a better time and a better place. Thank you Jesus for taking our father in to be with yours. Our family is forever grateful to James River Nursing Home for the outstanding level of professional and personal care given to both of our parents in your facility. We have never worried one minute about their safety and have been continually impressed with the kindness and compassion all of your associates provided. Also, thank you to Hospice Compassus for easing our fathers transition, providing comfort to all of us and just being there. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Alzheimer's Association , 1500 S. Glenstone, Springfield MO 65804.