Buddy Roger Tyler
January 17th, 1937 - December 12th, 2022
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Buddy's Obituary
Buddy Roger “Bud” Tyler – dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend to many - passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022 in St. Joseph, MI. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph with The Rev. Chris Noffke officiating. Friends and relatives will be received by the family beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday. To continue his legacy of spreading joy, memorials may be given in Bud’s memory to: Make-A-Wish Michigan Foundation or his church home, Zion United Church of Christ in Baroda, Michigan. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Buddy, or “Bud” as he was known amongst friends, was born on January 17, 1937 to Esther and James Tyler in South Bend, IN, and raised in Southwest Michigan, along with his six siblings. He attended Benton Harbor High School and was a member of the class of 1955. Following high school, Bud married the love of his life, Shirley (Trapp). From the moment Bud met Shirley, he was determined that she was the one for him – they wed on June 1, 1956 and welcomed three children in the years that followed. In their 66 years of marriage, Bud and Shirley had adventures that great love stories are made of; traveling the world together, including memorable trips to Australia, Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii and many others. They laughed, danced, enjoyed time with countless friends and family, and volunteered & worshiped together with their church family. Upon his retirement, Bud took up walking with Shirley for exercise, which the duo continued for the next three decades, usually hand-in-hand. Nearly every day, they could be seen walking from their home to join friends for coffee.
In his professional life, Bud pursued a career as an electrician, retiring from Bendix in Stevensville after 25 years of dedicated service. He later worked at the Village Lamp Shoppe, before retiring from his career as an electrician.
In his retirement, Bud found joy and proved to have an exceptional talent for restoring classic automobiles, including a 1931 Model A, 1932 DeSoto, and a 1956 Chevy. He and Shirley were members of the Southwest Michigan Car Collectors Club, where they enjoyed a community of friends and traveled to car shows all over the United States in their beautifully restored treasures, honking for every waving hand along the way.
While Bud was a man of many talents and qualities, one of his finest was his ability to make those around him smile and laugh. Never short on jokes, he lit up every room he walked into with his giant personality, quick wit, huge smile and carefree laugh. He never met a stranger and seemingly never had a worry. He chose to be happy and share his happiness with everyone around him. This was often to the delight of his grandchildren, who found endless fun in hearing his jokes – and he loved nothing more than giving them all “the business”, as he often called it.
Bud had a heart as big as his personality and full of love for his family. Of all his accomplishments, he was the proudest of his family, particularly his children; Sherry, Tim and Mark. Never has a father loved their children more than Bud loved and cherished his.
He had conviction and wouldn’t hesitate to speak up for what was right, be it popular or not. He was simple, funny, charming, a good man and chose to spread happiness – and will be missed dearly.
Bud is survived by his beloved wife Shirley; children, Sherry (Ron) Reed, Tim (Kellie) Tyler and Mark Tyler; grandchildren, Shelly (Danny) Walsh, Nikki (Joel) Haitz, Branden (Jackie) Tyler, Roni Reed, Ryan Tyler, AJ Tyler and Cassie Eisbrenner; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Sofia, Garner, Elinor, Alexis and Eva. Bud was preceded by his parents, Esther and James Tyler; siblings, Beverly Herman, Connie Sheehnan, Joyce Maynard, Jim Tyler, Jack Tyler, and Fred Tyler.
Buddy, or “Bud” as he was known amongst friends, was born on January 17, 1937 to Esther and James Tyler in South Bend, IN, and raised in Southwest Michigan, along with his six siblings. He attended Benton Harbor High School and was a member of the class of 1955. Following high school, Bud married the love of his life, Shirley (Trapp). From the moment Bud met Shirley, he was determined that she was the one for him – they wed on June 1, 1956 and welcomed three children in the years that followed. In their 66 years of marriage, Bud and Shirley had adventures that great love stories are made of; traveling the world together, including memorable trips to Australia, Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii and many others. They laughed, danced, enjoyed time with countless friends and family, and volunteered & worshiped together with their church family. Upon his retirement, Bud took up walking with Shirley for exercise, which the duo continued for the next three decades, usually hand-in-hand. Nearly every day, they could be seen walking from their home to join friends for coffee.
In his professional life, Bud pursued a career as an electrician, retiring from Bendix in Stevensville after 25 years of dedicated service. He later worked at the Village Lamp Shoppe, before retiring from his career as an electrician.
In his retirement, Bud found joy and proved to have an exceptional talent for restoring classic automobiles, including a 1931 Model A, 1932 DeSoto, and a 1956 Chevy. He and Shirley were members of the Southwest Michigan Car Collectors Club, where they enjoyed a community of friends and traveled to car shows all over the United States in their beautifully restored treasures, honking for every waving hand along the way.
While Bud was a man of many talents and qualities, one of his finest was his ability to make those around him smile and laugh. Never short on jokes, he lit up every room he walked into with his giant personality, quick wit, huge smile and carefree laugh. He never met a stranger and seemingly never had a worry. He chose to be happy and share his happiness with everyone around him. This was often to the delight of his grandchildren, who found endless fun in hearing his jokes – and he loved nothing more than giving them all “the business”, as he often called it.
Bud had a heart as big as his personality and full of love for his family. Of all his accomplishments, he was the proudest of his family, particularly his children; Sherry, Tim and Mark. Never has a father loved their children more than Bud loved and cherished his.
He had conviction and wouldn’t hesitate to speak up for what was right, be it popular or not. He was simple, funny, charming, a good man and chose to spread happiness – and will be missed dearly.
Bud is survived by his beloved wife Shirley; children, Sherry (Ron) Reed, Tim (Kellie) Tyler and Mark Tyler; grandchildren, Shelly (Danny) Walsh, Nikki (Joel) Haitz, Branden (Jackie) Tyler, Roni Reed, Ryan Tyler, AJ Tyler and Cassie Eisbrenner; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Sofia, Garner, Elinor, Alexis and Eva. Bud was preceded by his parents, Esther and James Tyler; siblings, Beverly Herman, Connie Sheehnan, Joyce Maynard, Jim Tyler, Jack Tyler, and Fred Tyler.
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