Charles E. "Bud" Mundy

1921 - 2014

Lt. Col. Charles E. "Bud" Mundy USAF (Retired), 93, died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. He was born and grew up in Oswego, N.Y. He married Marion Larkin and they were sweethearts for 67 years, until her death in 2009.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended Cadet Training School in Gettysburg, Pa. In 1944, while serving as a navigator on a bombing mission from Cerignola, Italy to Brux, Germany, his plane was shot down. Not knowing the fate of the other crew members, he escaped capture. Several days later, he was rescued by Yugoslavian Chetniks and reunited with the pilot and co-pilot of his B-24 bomber. They evaded capture for another several weeks before being captured by the Germans. He was a prisoner of war in Germany until liberated at the end of the War.
After the war, he remained in the military and became a pilot. He served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Air Corps, and U.S. Air Force. During his military career, he flew B-29 bombers in Korea as an aircraft commander, participated in atomic tests in Eniwetok Atoll, was a test pilot, and aircraft commander in B-47 bombers. He flew nuclear photo reconnaissance missions over Russia and was chief of wing standardization in B-52 bombers. He said of himself that he was a foot soldier, Private, Corporal, navigator, bombardier, pilot, senior pilot, commercial pilot, command pilot, instructor in atomic warfare, electronics warfare, chief standardization and evaluation pilot, personal pilot for King Hussein of Jordan and the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals, Air Force citations and Presidential citations.
Bud and Marion were world travelers and enjoyed life to the fullest. In 1996, they moved to Niceville, Fla. to be with family. Bud was a quiet man, a devoted family man, and had a great sense of humor. Everyone who knew him thought the world of him for his happy demeanor and good natured personality. He was also a golfer and loved gardening.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marion, and son, Lawrence. Bud is survived by his daughter, Barbara Wall of Niceville; son, Charles Mundy Jr. and wife Sue of Nashville, Tenn.; and daughter, Debra Kaska and husband Joe of Phoenix, Ariz. He leaves eight grand children and nine great-grandchildren.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church on White Point Road in Niceville at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7.
The family expresses its utmost gratitude to Superior Residences of Niceville for their many years of loving care and Covenant Hospice for making his final days comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 223 W. Gregory St, Pensacola, FL 32502-4821 or Covenant Hospice, 220 Eglin Pkwy. NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
You may go online to offer condolences to the family and sign the guestbook at www.heritagegardensfuneralhome.com. Heritage Gardens Funeral Home of Niceville is entrusted with the arrangements.