Roy J. "Bud" Rairden

Roy J. “Bud” Rairden, 74, departed this life on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Roy was born on May 22, 1938, to the late Roy A. and Genevieve Elizabeth (Reckel) Rairden, in Indianapolis, where he grew up and resided until 1996, when he and his wife Eva retired and moved to Martinsville.

Roy was a proud U.A.W. member working 30 years for Ford Motor Company on English Avenue in Indianapolis. He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church on the Westside of Indianapolis. Roy joined the U.S. Army in 1959 on a two year enlistment and was Honorably Discharged. He was recalled to active duty during the Berlin Crisis and once again honorably served for his country. His great loves were family, woodworking, and fishing. He was a kind and generous man, who maintained grace and a gentle sense of humor even in the face of great adversity and illness.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Eva J. (Short) Rairden of Martinsville; sons, Roy J. Rairden, Jr. and William A. Rairden of Martinsville; brother, James L. Rairden (Donna Dawson); sister, Shirley A. (Raiden) Mason, and her husband Robert; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 29, 2012, in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1200 N. Indiana St., Mooresville. Calling will be observed from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012, in the Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville. Father Mark Gottemoeller will officiate the service. Burial will be held in the Mooresville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness, 1099 N. Meridian St., Ste. 111, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Visit www.carlislebranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.