SAVAGE, ALLEN L.

TRAVERSE CITY – Allen L. “Bud” Savage, 74, of Traverse City, died Friday, August 13, 1999, at his daughter’s home.

Born June 4, 1925, in Central Lake, he was the son of Clair and Helen (Hunt) Savage. On Jan. 7, 1946, he married Margaret Winowiecki at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Isadore.

Bud – as he was affectionately known by his friends, was a 1943 graduate of Traverse City Central High School where he was co-captain of the Trojan football team. His team won the state championship in 1943.

Bud enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as soon as he graduated from high school. He excelled in boot camp and was assigned to the elite Marine Raiders, the forerunner of the special forces. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and also served in Korea and for three tours of duty in Vietnam. He was affectionately known as “Doc” to his Marine friends. Bud retired as a first sergeant after 29 years of service with the U.S. Marines. At the age of 65, when the Gulf War broke out, Bud went straight to the Marine recruiting office and begged to get in that war. But the Marine recruiter thanked him for the hitch he had served and assured him that they could handle things from there. A very patriotic man, he often helped place flags on the graves of veterans on Memorial Day, an important event in his life. Bud was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2780 in Traverse City.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; a daughter, Linda (Leonard) Ritola, and a sister, Vivien (Win) Edwards – all of Traverse City. Survivors also include six grandchildren, DiAnna (Steve) Ritola-Schow of Vermont; Nancee Ritola of North Carolina, and Andrew, Mary, Joseph and Brenden Ritola – all of Traverse City; a great-granddaughter, Mira Ruth; his mother-in-law, Bertha Winowiecki of Traverse City; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bud left behind some very dear friends in Bard, Calif., Dallas, Texas, and Billings, Mont.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Beth, and a brother, James.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Interment will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens with full military rites.

Memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice or Mass Intentions.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.