Boyd Anthony Hemphill Jr.

Boyd Anthony “Bud” Hemphill Jr., passed away peacefully in Montogomery, Alabama. In 1948 he was born in Darby, Pennsylvania, and lived a life defined by service, devotion to family, and a quiet pride in a job well done.

Bud is survived by his wife of 57 years- Marion; his two sons, Boyd and Dan; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was the steady center of our family, the one we leaned on, laughed with, and learned from. He is also survived by his brother, Tom.

In 1967, Bud joined the United States Air Force, answering the call to serve during the Vietnam War. Over more than two decades in uniform, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant, retiring honorably in 1988. His career reflected the way he lived his life: with duty, integrity, and professionalism. He never bragged about what he did; he simply did the work, and he did it well. During his active years, Bud could often be found supporting his son’s sports, teasing them that seatbelts were mandated on bikes, and bowling well above a 200 average—a small point of pride that brought him great satisfaction. He showed up for the people he loved, consistently and without fanfare.

After retiring his Air Force uniform, Bud continued to serve. He managed procurement at Vance Air Force Base, and later returned to public service in Montgomery, Alabama, supporting the Civil Air Patrol in a similar capacity for many years. Whether in uniform or as a civilian, he believed in doing his part and helping others succeed.

But if you asked Bud what he was proudest of, it was never a rank or a title—it was his family. He was a devoted husband and a doting grandfather, and a “big kid” at heart who loved to laugh and make others laugh.

He was endlessly proud of his grandson Logan and absolutely adored his great-grandsons, Mason and Caden. Logan had 30 years of memories with his “Pop” (or “Dude,” as they called each other), and those memories paint a perfect picture of who Bud was. With Bud and Logan, there was never a dull moment - from Bud flying with 6 year old Logan for the first time to countless road trips together. There was the time in Ocean City when Bud turned the binoculars around backwards, handed them to Logan, and told him the ocean was “closed”—and a young Logan believed him. There was the infamous llama at the safari in Virginia, leaving snot and feed all over the Tahoe, remnants of which turned up for years.

Bud and family celebrated his 60th with a big trip to Las Vegas for a NASCAR race and a Cirque du Soleil show. A few years later there was another NASCAR race in Florida where Bud “lost” the Tahoe because he couldn’t remember where he parked. In Myrtle Beach, there was a “famous” fart competition between Bud and Logan that went on so long it had Marion gagging and the two “Dudes” crying with laughter. Together they walked through Washington, D.C., saw the memorials, and visited Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changing of the guard—a fitting moment for a man who served his country so faithfully.

There were recent adventurous summers in Virginia—“Chaos” and “Chaos 2.0”— when 4 generations of Hemphill’s gathered to celebrate. Most recently there was a surprise visit to Alabama for Thanksgiving that none of us knew would be the last hug.

Bud was also very proud of his grandson Isaac, who is serving in the United States Navy and was recently married. And Bud was excited to see what his youngest grandson, Caleb, would accomplish after college. He believed in his grandsons and made sure they knew it.

To us, he was “Buuuud,” “Old Man”, “Dude,” and more recently “Stinky-Doodle” (with the great grandkids)—a title he wore with a grin. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, service, and stories that we will be telling for the rest of our lives. A family celebration will be held in Virginia in the summer of 2026. In lieu of flowers, our family invites donations in Bud’s name to https://purpleheartfoundation.org/ —continuing his lifelong commitment to those who serve.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and loved him. Rest easy. We love you.