Leo "Bud" W. Carroll Jr. was born on July 10, 1921, and departed this earth on December 6, 2021. He and his family celebrated his 100 ^th birthday on July 10th, 2021. His parents were Mattie Lemons Carroll and Leo W Carroll Sr. Bud was a lifelong resident of Springfield, MO.

Growing up, Bud loved to hunt and fish with his parents and brother.  After school he learned to repair typewriters for his father at Carroll Typewriter Company.

As a boy, Bud dreamed about flying airplanes. When it came time to either be drafted or to enlist during WWII, he enlisted with the US Army Air Corps, the precursor to the Air Force, on August 5, 1942, he was 21 years old. He wanted to serve his country and have a chance to fly. After enlisting, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas where he trained to fly single-engine and twin-engine open cockpit planes. He later graduated to B-24s and B-29s and finally flew B-29s as a flight commander. His specialty was contact navigation. He served at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

Leo Willis Carroll Jr. and Ernestine Louise Baxter were married during WWII, on December 6, 1943 at South Street Christian Church in Springfield, MO.

In August 1945 he was given orders to pick up crew and fly to the state of Washington to await deployment orders to fly overseas. The war ended before the deployment was assigned. He retired from the Air Force and entered the Reserves.  Ernestine and Bud returned to Springfield, MO.

After the war Bud worked with his father and brother at Carroll Typewriter Company, eventually leading the company. The name changed to Carroll Office Machines and finally to Carroll Business Systems as his nephew took over the family business.

Bud served on the board of Systematic Savings and Loan, was an active member of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, and a lifelong fan of Drury University basketball. He also loved to hunt and fish in Missouri, Colorado, Canada and his favorite place Alaska where Ernestine frequently joined him. He continued his love of flying with his own single engine plane and multi-engine planes when he accepted a part time job flying a C-47 (aka DC-3) for FedEx runs between Springfield and Memphis

Ernestine and Bud shared hobbies of traveling, planting and tending large vegetable and flower gardens, bee keeping and spending time with their children and grandchildren and lots of family dogs. In retirement Bud bought a farm near Wilson's Creek Battlefield where he raised cattle and taught his grandchildren to farm, fish and hunt.

Bud and Ernestine had been married 70 years when she proceeded him in death on July 29, 2014. The day Bud, (Dad, Papa, and Great Papa) left this earth to join his wife Ernestine, (Mom, Nana, and Great Nana) in heaven was their 78 ^th wedding anniversary. We are all blessed that they are now able to be together again, starting on that very special day.

Leo (Bud) Willis Carroll Jr. is survived by daughter, Ann Carroll Rhea and husband Charles of Minneapolis MN, son, Chris E. Carroll and wife Amy of Springfield MO, 2 grandchildren, Brian (Leah} Rhea, Meredith (Tim) Anderson, 2 great-grandchildren, Zoelle and Leo, "other daughter" Claire Rousseau and 7 family dachshunds. Bud has many loved nephews, nieces and their families around the country.

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers at Home Instead, Meals on Wheels, James River Nursing, Hospice, the Senior Age Center and South Street Christian Church for the wonderful care and support they have given to Bud and his family.

In lieu of flowers please make difference in a senior's life by making a donation to the Senior Age Center/ Meals on Wheels programs, both of which are a tremendous help for seniors.

A Full Military Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 10, 2022 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 Southwood Rd, Springfield MO. A memorial service will begin at 12:30 p.m.  at South Street Christian Church, 500 South Ave. Springfield, MO, with the Rev. Janet Given officiating at both services. All are welcome at both services.

Bud's Military Graveside Service can be viewed here .