Buford Ray Wilhite

Buford Ray Wilhite, 91, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 24, 2012 after a prolonged illness. Buford was born in Blake, OK on October 8, 1921 and then moved to Mangum OK at the age of 5. At the age of 15, he moved to Houston, Texas where he was a member of the second graduating class of Lamar High School. After graduation, he attended Massey Business School and worked for a Lease Hound until the outbreak of WWII. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp. in 1942 and served both stateside and then with the occupation forces in the European Theater as a court reporter for the War Crimes Branch of HQ investigating team responsible for the interrogation and apprehension of war criminals. He was honorably discharged in 1946. After the war, Buford worked as a railroad man for the Ft.Worth and Denver Railroad where he met Peggy Young. Shortly thereafter, they married and Buford spent the rest of his working career with Sears Roebuck & Company as an executive, retiring in 1976. Retirement gave him an opportunity to pursue his passion...fishing. He took every opportunity to "wet a line" and had plenty of fish stories. He was a leader of men, a devoted husband and father and will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Peggy and survived by his sons - Tim and wife Paige, Thomas and wife Rhonda and David and wife Mary, six grandchildren, Misti and husband Scott of Tampa FL, Marni of Austin TX, Maggie and husband Southpaw of Austin TX, Christopher and wife Julie of Austin TX and both Christina and David Michael Wilhite of Spring TX and three great grandchildren, Evi and Eli of Tampa FL and Mila of Austin TX. Arrangements are pending. Contact Forest Park Cemetery - Lawndale for further information. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to Alzheimer’s Association at 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd. ,Houston, TX 77030-2008.