Elmer "Bud" Laurent

Elmer “Bud” Laurent died Sunday, July 29 2018 at his home in Florida.  He was born in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, the son of Elmer W and Anna C (Leopardi) Laurent.  

He is survived by his wife, Ellen, of 56 years; daughters and son-in-law Cheryl, Donna and Wayne; grandson, granddaughter-in-law Alex & Blake; great grandsons Camden and Hayden; and granddaughter Ciel.

He attended the University of Pittsburgh, played football at the University of Kansas and is a graduate of the University of Maryland. He received an MBA from Georgia State University and was selected to participate in higher education management courses at Northwestern University, Emory, UCLA and others.

Bud spent most of his career at Lockheed in Marietta GA, Paris France and Ottawa Canada where he held various positions in International Marketing. He was also very active as a volunteer in the communities where he lived including GA Jaycees, Toys for Tots, Children’s Haven, Lockheed Management Club, etc.  He received the honorary rank of Colonel in the Georgia Militia, presented by the governor, for his community service.

Bud retired in 1993 to Green Cove Springs Florida and immediately became involved the neighborhood residents' association, the Elks, and the PGA tour charity tournaments held in the area, including the TPC at Sawgrass and the Legends Tours held in several north Florida locations. He recruited and managed the volunteers in the Media Centers and assisted the media in all aspects of their work. Bud also enjoyed time spent with friends & family, boating, golfing and traveling.

No service is scheduled.  The family has requested that any memorial contributions be made in his name to Mobility Worldwide PET-Florida at PO Box 919 Penney Farms FL 32079 or to Penney Memorial Church at PO Box 354, Penney Farms, FL 32079. 

Bud will be deeply missed by his family and many friends who knew and loved him.

Bud’s niece, Kelly, created a beautiful picture of Bud’s life with her words: “My Uncle Bud was an amazing man. You know those “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercials?  He was that times 100 and it was all true.  Among many, MANY, other things, he: went to college with Wilt Chamberlain, built a golf course, rode camels in the Middle Eastern deserts and went skiing in Switzerland. He took French cooking classes in Paris and made awesome Belgian waffles (which, undoubtedly, he learned all about in Brussels).  He sold planes all over the world for Lockheed, and lived in Paris, Canada and Marietta GA. He brought us scarabs and hieroglyphics from Egypt and pearls from Spain.  He made me believe Santa was really on the roof…I heard the bells and hooves! He teased us with his “removable tooth” and made huge waves with cannonballs in the pool.  He was a big man with an affinity for little convertibles and good cigars. He could be intimidating but never scary (except for the hippity-hop incident of 1977). He was so worldly and wise but was equally happy to talk to the local farmer as he was to a sheik in Saudi.  He was debonair and hilarious. He was a golfer and a captain. He loved learning his way around his Mac. He gave great speeches and even greater hugs. He made his own pepper jelly. But lest you think he was some international playboy…quite the opposite. He was a family man. He and my equally amazing and brilliant Aunt Ellen raised two beautiful women. They were right there with him on his whirlwind of a life. He loved his brother and sister (my Mom), parents and whole family fiercely. He was a wonderful son, dad, proud and doting grandfather, great grandfather, sibling, friend and Uncle. And he loved me. He called me Keldonia. Uncle Bud and Aunt Ellen have been my surrogate parents for ten years now. I can’t fathom not being able to call on him for his sage advice and acerbic wit. He was sincerely larger than life and I was beyond lucky to have had him in mine.”

Carpe Diem in Heaven, Bud.  We love you!