Abbott Alonzo “Bud” Waldron died in his home on March 10, 2010 at the age of 98 with his daughter by his side. He was a long-time, well-respected, resident of Mariposa County and was dearly loved by his family and friends.

He was born on Feb. 15, 1912 to Abbott John “A.J.” and Maud Mary Waldron in Colorado. He attended grammar school in Monument and high school in Colorado Springs.

Bud planned to attend college to become a veterinarian, but plans changed after the 1929 depression. From that point on, Bud took any job to survive from cleaning warehouses to breaking wild horses. Bud was also an avid rodeo competitor and won the 1931 Frontier Days Calf Roping competition in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Bud met the love of his life, Twila Clydette Higginbottom, on a blind date. They were married on Dec. 24, 1933, in Ordway, Colo. and left for California where Bud worked for Shell Oil Company.

With war clouds gathering, Bud went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Company in November 1941. His first assignment was converting Hudson passenger planes into bombers for use by England. After Pearl Harbor, he supervised, as design engineer, development of all electrical, radio, intercom, and flight instruments for the first United States jet fighter, YP-80 He managed special projects for Lockheed, such as the 1049 Constellation and P2V Neptune. His last assignment was the L-1011.

During the early 1950’s, Bud was invited to be a member of the Aircraft Electrical Society, even though he was not a graduate electrical engineer. He was appointed a director and later elected president of the society.

Bud and Clydette bought a ranch in Mariposa in the late 1960s and in 1970, he retired from Lockheed. Ernest Verley built their dream home and they then immersed themselves in hospital and county volunteer services. Bud spent 20-plus years with the Mariposa County Conservation District where he initiated many changes.

He worked at the County Fair for Tilly Stroming on the produce and livestock exhibits, including 4-H/FFA animals. He volunteered with the chain gang for Mariposa County High School football for years and with agricultural students and their 4-H/FFA projects.

He raised purebred polled herefords on his Flying W Ranch and remained active in several associations. Bud always considered himself a rancher and lived by the code of the west.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 65 years, Clydette. He is survived by his daughter, Connie Waldron of Midpines and son, Bruce Waldron of Sanger, CA.

Grandchildren include Theresa Cayous of Atwater and her children, Michael and Cassie; Andrea Summerlin of Mariposa and her children, Brianna and David; Denise Sobolik (Jim) of Camarillo and their children, Matthew and Melissa; Brian and Michael Waldron of Fresno; Michelle Conley and her children Sunny and Dustin and Sunny’s daughter, Alize.

Memorial contributions can be made through the John C. Fremont Hospital Ewing Wing, Post Office Box 216, Mariposa, CA 95338 or Bootjack Fire Department, 3883 Bootjack Lane, Mariposa, CA 95338.

At his request, no formal services will be held.