Extracted from The Amarillo Globe-News (Amarillo, TX)
Monday, December 22, 2008

Buford Clarence Hartwick

Buford Clarence Hartwick, 86, of Amarillo died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Graveside services and military honors will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Friona Cemetery with the Rev. Craig Albracht, pastor, officiating.

Buford was born Jan. 2, 1922, in Anson to Clarence J. and Nannie Hartwick. Buford married Virginia Ellen “Jean” Paul West on Aug. 19, 1945, in Los Angeles.

Buford enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1941, and survived the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. During his navy career, he served on the USS Pennsylvania BB-38 Pearl Harbor, USS Shamrock Bay CVE-84, USS Yorktown CVA-10, USS Midway CVA-41, and at the Naval Station in Adak, Alaska.

During his naval service he received several awards and commendations: the Pearl Harbor Survivor Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, five Navy Good Conduct Medals, the American Defense Service Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with six stars. He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Buford retired from the Navy in November 1960 and moved to Friona, where he was employed by the U.S. Postal Service until retiring in January 1977.

Buford was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association, the Masonic Lodge, and a board member of the Friona Public Library.

He was a devoted and loving father and husband. He enjoyed boats and boating and spending time with family and friends at various lakes in Texas and New Mexico. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jean in 1994; his parents; and his sister Auda Lee.

Survivors include his loving daughter, Pam Jones and husband Joe Bill; two grandchildren, Bobbie Jean Place and husband Pete, Michael Snelson and wife April; three great-grandchildren, Ashley Place, Brenden Snelson and Riley Snelson, all of Amarillo; two sisters, Beth Boles of Waurika, Okla., and Peggy Brewer and husband Cotton of Midlothian; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to the U.S. Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 123, Washington, D.C., 20004-2608, online donations at www.navymemorial.org/Donate); or BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.

Sign the online guest book at www.coxlagrone.com.