Obituary of Fred Durant Bartleson, Jr.

Fred Durant Bartleson Jr, earned his heavenly wings on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at the age of 90.  He was born in Fort Myers, Florida to Dr. Fred Durant Bartleson and Eleanor Woolslair Bartleson.  

 

Fred, known as “Bud,” grew up in Fort Myers, Florida, and graduated from Fort Myers High School, where he played football for the Green Wave. He was a proud “Greenie.” The caption under Bud’s photo in his senior yearbook read, “His care was never to offend… and every creature was his friend.”

 

Bud loved to fish and was a scratch golfer.  He met the love of his life, Grace Chalmers Dixon (Gracie) while vacationing in Balsam, North Carolina.  After marrying Gracie and graduating from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in ornithology, Bud passed up an opportunity to be a professional golfer, but instead, joined the Air Force and earned his earthly wings.

 

As an Air Force pilot, Bud was charged with transporting military personnel and dependent families between the US and overseas bases. One of Bud’s favorite anecdotes was of a flight from McGuire AFB to Europe. Three of his four engines failed, but he managed to land safely in Paris and was surprised to be greeted with a red carpet and a band.  Both the flight crew and the welcoming ground staff soon realized the error of mistaken identity. The ceremonial dignitary protocol was intended for Air Force One and President Eisenhower, who had been circling overhead to allow Bud’s emergency landing.  

 

During the Vietnam War, Bud served as squadron commander of Combat Airlift Operations AeroMed Evac missions. He flew wounded soldiers out of Vietnam to bases in the Phillipines and Japan.  During that tour, Bud was wounded in a Viet Cong mortar attack on Tan Son Hnut AFB. He had been on the tarmac during the attack, directing his planes off the airfield, when he took some shrapnel. Bud was awarded the Purple Heart.

 

Another of Bud’s career assignments was Assistant Professor of Physiology, and Director of Advanced Biology, at the US Air Force Academy. He was later stationed at Eglin AFB, where he was appointed as an engineer in the advanced weapons development program. Bud led his team in the development of the “heads-up display” that has been implemented in both military and commercial aircraft.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Fred Durant Bartleson Jr. retired after twenty years of military service.

 

After his retirement from the Air Force, Bud continued to live an active life. He operated a small orange grove near Fort Myers, while simultaneously working as a commercial fisherman and environmental scientist. During that time, Governor Bob Graham appointed him to the position of county commissioner of Lee County, Florida.

 

Bud was an avid storyteller who shared his tales with family and friends. He was a frequent opinion writer and cartoon caption winner for the Florida Today newspaper. A highlight of Bud’s later years was his selection to be a member of the Honor Flight to Washington DC, where he participated in a whirlwind 24 hour tour, including a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Bud made friends wherever he went.  He was highly respected and revered by many.  Fred will be missed by each member of his family, and by all of those whose lives he nurtured and enhanced with his kind spirit, humor, and gentle nature. No doubt that the heavens rejoiced his arrival. He was surely greeted at the gate with a “Well done, Fred.”

 

The family is thankful for the end of life care provided to Bud and Gracie by the staff and residents at the Fountains of Melbourne.

 

Fred’s sisters, Eleanor Arrington, Barbara Cummings, and his brother James Bartleson, predeceased him. The love of Fred’s life, Gracie, to whom he referred as his “smokin’ hot trophy wife,” passed in 2016.

 

Bud and Gracie are survived by Fred Bartleson, III (Jean) of Melbourne, FL; Richard Bartleson, of Fort Myers, FL; Andrew Bartleson (Mary Deck) of Waynesville, NC; Brett Bartleson (Karen) of Colorado Springs, CO; Rebecca Bartleson Marr, of Vero Beach, FL; Mark Bartleson (Lisa) of Brentwood, TN; nine grandchildren including Sarah(Will), Rebecca, Angie(Jeremy), Matthew(Lauren), Joshua, Jeremy, Katie, Elyse, and Lilly. Two great-grands, Ainsley, and Sam (on the way) completed his joy.

 

A memorial service will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.  In lieu of cards and flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Bud to Space Coast Honor Flights Click here to Donate or at Space Coast Honor Flight, P.O. Box 560975, Rockledge FL 32956.

 

 

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