Buddy Dilworth died at age 95 on January 7, 2013. He was born on August 17, 1917. He lived his entire life in Italy, Texas, except for a few years while in the Air Force during World War II.

He was very happily married to Gertrude (Hamlett) Dilworth until her death in 1979. A few years after Gertie’s death, he and Barba Burnett became companions until her death. Buddy and Gertie Dilworth had one son, Robert Hamlett Dilworth, who lives in Irving, Texas with his wife, Mary Dilworth. Buddy has one grandson, Robert Gregory Dilworth, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Buddy’s parents were Robert Henderson Dilworth and Lula Taylor Dilworth, who also lived in Italy, Texas their entire lives. Buddy had one brother, William Dilworth, who predeceased him 10 years ago. He and Bill were raised on a farm south of Italy from which they rode a horse to town to attend high school after attending grammar school at the nearby Hamrock School.

Buddy owned a land conservation business using bulldozers, road graders, and scrapers. He built many terraces, waterways, and livestock ponds for farmers in Ellis and surrounding counties. He and his good friend, Charles Adams, started the business using a whirlwind terracing machine pulled by a farm tractor. After a few years, he and Gertie, who worked for the soil conservation service, saved enough money to buy their first bulldozer, and the business grew slowly over the years. Eventually, they begin to buy farm land near Italy. His local farmer friends called him a “hobby farmer” since his main business was with the dozers, etc. After many years, he “retired” from the dozer business and devoted his time to the farming business.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Italy and received his 65 year membership award a few years ago. He served in all the chairs of the Lodge over the years, and he and Gertie were active members of Eastern Star, too. He lived independently until he was 90, and then, after a stroke, lived in Trinity Mission Nursing Home in Italy until last year, when it was necessary to move him to an Alzheimer’s Home.

Buddy had many good friends in Italy, and was especially appreciative of the farmers, who took care of his land after his retirement from farming. They are Jimmy and James Hooser, Lee Harris, and Macky Graves. He always considered Charles and Dorothy Adams as best friends, and was grateful for Charles’ working with him for many years in the dozer business. Jane Perales, and her family, “looked in” on Buddy, both at his home and at Trinity Mission, and he was very grateful for their caring assistance.

Buddy was honest, thrifty, worked hard, minded his own business, good humored, and was a loyal friend. Buddy will be buried next to Gertie in the Italy Cemetery.

His funeral will be at 10 am on Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home in Italy, followed by family visitation and lunch at the Italy Uptown Café at noon.