Gene Ellen (Patton) Budd

Gene Ellen Budd (76) died beside her son and daughter Thursday, December 22nd just as the snow began to fall. Gene fought against Alzheimer’s disease with grit and grace. The hardest part about Gene’s disease was not the forgetfulness and gradual loss of mobility. The hardest part is what we experience now reflecting back, knowing how much suffering this disease brought to a wonderful loving, caring, and whimsical mom and grandma. Gene had the most warm and caring staff watching over her at the Villas of Holly Brook in Danville Illinois. The people caring for her helped Gene resist the progression of her illness and offered Gene patient and kind caregiving all the way until the illness overtook her in death. Gene never knew she was in hospice care with the staff at Transitions Hospice. The hospice staff cared for Gene for over a year as the disease wore on Gene’s perseverant spirit.

Gene Ellen Budd was born Gene Ellen Patton on August 29th, 1946, in Shelby Ohio to Eugene Cromwell Patton and Mary Ellen Danals Patton. Gene is preceded in death by her parents and loving husband Leonard W. Budd, and brothers Gerald Patton and Raymond Patton. Gene is survived by son, Bryan Budd (Annie) of Tennessee; daughter, Melanie Easton (Chris) of Illinois; grandchildren, Adelaide, Emmaline, Isaiah, and Bailee, brother Russel Patton (Elnora) of Ohio and two nieces Shelly Genaro (Tony), Nichole Sharpe (Jeffrey).

Gene enjoyed a relationship with the source and author of all life and believed that God has acted decisively in human history to break the bonds of death through Jesus Christ. Gene enjoyed that life with Him for a span of years on earth; now realized forever.

Gene graduated Olivet Nazarene College using her degree to invest in young students and their families. Gene was recognized for her excellence as a High School English Teacher serving most recently in Hernando County Schools, Florida. Over the course of her long teaching career, Gene leaves a legacy in her students in Kansas City (MO), Baraboo (WI), and Cincinnati (OH).

Gene served faithfully as a pastor’s spouse in the Church of the Nazarene. Making friends and sharing life with many people in Shawnee Church of the Nazarene (MO), Liberty Church of the Nazarene (MO), Baraboo Church of the Nazarene (WI), Bradford Church of the Nazarene (PA), Monroeville Church of the Nazarene (PA), Mt. Healthy Church of the Nazarene (OH), Calvary Church of the Nazarene (FL), Spring Hill First Church of the Nazarene (FL).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Danville First Church of the Nazarene, 2212 North Vermilion Street Danville IL Saturday January 7th, 2023, at 1:00pm.

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