Buford Ness

Buford "Buff" DeVon Ness was born September 17, 1937, to Ernest and Beatrice Ness in South Bend, Indiana. He departed this earth to be with his Lord Jesus on January 6, 2026, having lived 88 vibrant years.

Buff was a graduate of Mill Creek High School, Mill Creek, Indiana. He also received a BS degree from Arizona State University; an MS degree in Total Quality Management and a PhD degree in Human Behavior, both from Golden State University. An achiever from childhood, Buff had many titles during his lifetime. He was addressed as Colonel Ness; Captain Ness, Dr. Ness and Pastor Ness!

Buff was a veteran of the US Army and an officer in the US Air Force for forty-two years retiring as a full Colonel in 1994. He served as a B-52 pilot who flew many combat missions over Vietnam. He served as a General's Aide-de-Camp to two generals ,Special Operations Officer to CINCPAC and IMA to the Director of Operations at Air University. He led the team that developed the Total Quality Management Program for the US Air Force. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and many other military medals and awards.

As a pilot for 28 years with Delta Air Lines, Buff was the Team Leader in the development of the integrated crew training model on the B737. He also served as Fleet Manager of the B737 fleet from 1989 to 1994. He was the Project Pilot for the development of the Second Generation B737-300, 400, 500 glass cockpit airplanes.

Buff was ordained as a minister of the Gospel in 1980 and was the founding pastor of Trinity Word Church in Decatur, Texas. He and his wife, Lana, served as pastors at the Hamlin Foursquare Church in Hamlin, Texas from 2003 to 2010. They retired to Branson, Missouri in 2011 where he became active in the Vietnam Veterans organization, the American Legion Post 220 where he served as Commander and the Branson Christian Men's Fellowship group led by Chuck Pennel.

In 2013 the Lord called Buff and his wife to Salinas, Ecuador where they founded Church on the Beach, Salinas. As missionary pastors committed to discipleship the ministry grew to a congregation of over 300 members . In 2022 they constructed a new building that currently serves them. Buff continued as Pastor until his passing on to glory.

Buford Ness is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Roger Ness. He is survived by his loving wife, Lana Ness, sister Lana Morgan, son Scott Ness, stepson Nathan Frick, seven grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. He was blessed to have many great grandchildren as well.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson at 3:00 pm. Military honors will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 South Southwood Springfield, MO.

In Buford's memory, donations are requested to Ness Ministries for the school building fund at Church on the Beach. paypal.me/BufordNess (Select: "Gift") or Zelle account: nessministries@gmail.com.