Ransom Rideout

1920 - 2015

Ransom Rideout
October 12, 1920 - December 4, 2015
Resident of Santa Cruz
Ransom W. Rideout, known to many as "Bud," passed away peacefully on December 4, at the age of 95, in Scotts Valley, California. A pilot with the Flying Tigers during World War II, Bud had recently told his family that he was ready to climb back into his old P-40, and fly away to join his late wife, Betty — and so he has. Bud is survived by his brother Hugh, and by sons Ransom, Jr., Leif, and Ernie, and their partners and spouses Linda Nishio, Kathy Rideout, and Marsha Genensky. Bud leaves two grandchildren, Vincent Rideout and Lucy Rideout, Lucy's husband JP Otto, great-grandchildren Desi and Audrey Otto, and step-grandson Page Buchanan, his wife Michelle, and their son William, to carry on his legacy.
Bud was a rare spirit: Those who knew him already miss his smile, warmth, encouragement, laughter, endless curiosity, and especially the genuine interest he took in everyone he met. Born in San Jose, California, Bud grew up on his family's ranch on Trimble Road, spending much time as well with family in Berkeley and along the San Francisco Bay waterfront. He was raised in a creative and diverse family; he and his siblings, Ernie, Charlotte, and Hugh often found themselves in the company of the farmers, musicians, thespians, and educators who made up the circle of friends of their parents, Ransom and Charlotte Rideout. Bud's grandfather, Ernest Vincent Rideout, a master mariner and tugboat captain, frequently took Bud along on his tug, towing a variety of cargoes around the Bay. By the age of twelve, Bud was taking the helm of the 100-foot tug and towing barges — even at night.
When his father took the opportunity to work in the film industry in Los Angeles in the mid-'30s, Bud and his dad sailed a small sloop, Spindrift, from San Francisco to Santa Monica. They lived on the boat for three years, rubbing elbows with the likes of fellow sailors Claudette Colbert, Humphrey Bogart, and Johnny Weissmuller. There his father wrote screenplays and taught English, and Bud took classes at Santa Monica Junior College. Bud then returned to San Jose to begin his studies at San Jose State College, at which time he developed an interest in aviation, and got his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
As the war overseas became increasingly dire, Bud found himself unable to concentrate on his studies. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and began military flight school at the Ryan School of Aeronautics in San Diego in September, 1941. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to the 115th Reconnaissance Squadron. During the next three years, he flew every type of military plane in production, became a flight instructor, and was stationed at a series of bases in California, Mississippi, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and finally, at Marshall Field in Ft. Riley, Kansas.
It was at Ft. Riley that Bud met Betty Austad, an Iowan who had trained to be an Army nurse. They married in October, 1944, and soon thereafter received their orders: Betty headed to Europe with the 119th Evacuation Hospital, and Bud was sent to the China-Burma theater of operations, where he became a fighter pilot with the 27th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Air Force at Chickiang — otherwise known as the Flying Tigers. Bud flew 38 search-and-destroy missions in P-40s and P-51s. He was shot down during his last mission by enemy gunfire in July 1945. He was captured, but then re-captured by Chinese guerillas, who befriended him and helped him return to his base, a grueling journey that took nearly two weeks.
Bud and Betty were reunited after the War. They ultimately settled in Redwood City, California, where they began their family while Bud earned his Masters in Education from Stanford, and began teaching. He continued flying jets with the California Air National Guard until a close encounter between his F-86 Saber Jet and a B-52 told him it was time to hang it up. By the end of his flying career, Bud had flown 56 different types of aircraft.
The family moved to Santa Cruz in 1963, where Bud served the Santa Cruz City Schools, first as Personnel Director, then for nearly 20 years the principal of Gault Elementary School. During the '60s and '70s, Bud was also very active in the Santa Cruz Yacht Club in a variety of roles, including Commodore in 1972. He was a dedicated sailing teacher as well, sharing with countless students his own sense of joy and wonder at being on the water, and his knowledge of seamanship.
After Bud and Betty retired around 1980, they moved to one of their favorite vacation spots, Morro Bay, California. For the next 25 years, they enjoyed gardening, volunteering as Friends of the Library, and supporting their favorite nonprofits — the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and Southern Poverty Law Center. They also toured the Western States in their VW Vanagon, particularly delighting in the areas around Sedona, Arizona. Bud revived his longtime passion of model airplane building and flying, and became a devoted member of the SLO Flyers Club, through which he mentored several young flyers, at least one of whom has since taken to the sky as a true aviator. Bud and Betty's flower-bedecked patio was a mecca for neighbors and friends, who knew they could count on a fresh cup of coffee and who loved their warm and stimulating company.
After Betty passed away in 2005, Bud returned to Santa Cruz, where he reconnected with friends and family. He also found love again with an old sailing buddy, Lyn Johnston. Bud and Lyn's time together was filled with laughter and adventure, until Lyn, too, passed away in 2014.
Bud spent his final years in the care of Leif and Kathy Rideout in their Scotts Valley home, visited often by his loving friends and family.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Santa Cruz and the devoted caregivers who loved Bud, and who were loved by him in return. There will be a memorial celebration of the lives of both Bud and his sister Charlotte Hayes at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club on Saturday, January 23rd, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz County would be greatly appreciated.


View the online memorial for Ransom Rideout