C.E. Gandee's Obituary
C. E. ‘Bud’ Gandee, after a lengthy bout with leukemia, died Monday, July 27, 2009 at Baptist Memorial Hospital.He was born in Akron, Ohio, the only son of Carl E. and Minnette Gandee on September 23, 1932. He married Joanne Mary Hodgson in 1953, and they celebrated 55 years of loving marriage last November. Bud entered the United States Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sgt. in 1955. He was a police officer (1958 – 59) in Cincinnati, Ohio where he also earned his bachelor’s degree at Chase College. He was to return to law enforcement as a volunteer in 2001 as part of The Shelby County Sheriff Department’s Civilian Watch. Bud spent 32 years with Kraft Foods in personnel, sales, marketing, and management. He traveled the country throughout his career which enabled him and his wife to travel the world. In his final years at Kraft he was board chairman of the Volunteer Center for this community and also on the board for Memphis Partners. An example of his artwork, ‘Big Cheese Lover’ can be found along the walk in front of the Children’s Museum. After retirement he worked for Megamarket, Advertising Specialties, and was a radio announcer for Christian stations WPLY, WGSF, and KSUD. His favorite hobbies in retirement were driving in the bus ministry for his church and a love of cooking that kept his mind and heart inspired. He was taught of the Lord from boyhood. He graduated in 1950 from Apostolic College (high school) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served in various capacities in the several churches he joined in the Midwest and in Memphis. While living in Grand Rapids, Michigan he became a 32nd degree Mason. He was a teacher throughout life as a father, with Kraft, at Western Michigan University, at church Sunday schools, and his final class – King’s Family Bible Class at Bellevue. He was able to finish the class study he wrote on Job a few weeks ago. He was a gentleman and a friend to all. His gift of warmth and conversation built friendships all along his life’s journey. He knew how to enjoy life and was a family man. He was called, ‘Pops’ by the grandchildren who adored him, ‘Dad’ by the children who admired him, and ‘Honey’ by the love of his life, Joanne.Bud is survived by his wife; Joanne Gandee (Bartlett, TN), his four children; Rhonda Welborn (Princeton, TX) Jon Gandee (Tunica, MS) Karen Cook (Barton, MS) and Todd Gandee (Germantown, TN), his eleven grandchildren; Erin Louise, Garrett Elliott, Sierra Lisa Michelle, Heather Melissa, Ray Robert, John James, Arthur Daniel, David Weatherly, Michael Andrew, Thomas Allyn, and Jackson Cleburne.In lieu of flowers – Please send contributions to Mid-America Baptist Seminary, Cordova, Tennessee.
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