M.M. “Bud” Forte passed away at home Sunday, August 5, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born on October 13, 1925, a son to the late John A. and Orpha Burgett Forte.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Bud served his country in the Pacific theater during World War II and worked for the B&O/CSX Railroad for forty years. Active in the community, he gave his time as a Boy Scout leader in Ceredo for many years and volunteered at Pleasant Valley Hospital, accumulating more than 9, 000 hours of service. He was an avid golfer who had two holes-in one, and a member of hidden Valley Country Club. He also enjoyed fishing and bowling. He was a member of Minturn Lodge #19 AF and AM, he was also a member of the York Rite Legion of Honor, and the Scottish Rite, and also member of Beni Kedem Shriner’s Club, all of Charleston, and attended Bellemeade United Methodist Church.

Bud is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Ramona, who was his childhood sweetheart; two daughters, Laura Shaw of Virginia Beach, Va., and Linda Wood (Mark) of Charleston; three grandchildren, John Woody of Crosslanes, Jennifer Ball (Joe) of Anderson, Ind., and Susan Ward (Keith) of Virginia Beach, Va.; and five great-grandchildren: Morgan, Joshua, Madison, Jackson, and Drake. He was predeceased by his great-granddaughter, Julia.

The U. S. Naval Academy of Charleston, W.Va., will be conducting a full military graveside service at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at Kirkland Memorial Gardens with Reverend James Lawson officiating. Minturn Lodge #19 will also be conducting Masonic Graveside Rites. At his request, there will be no public visitation. Deal Funeral Home is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Pleasant Valley Hospital Hospice Care or Bellemeade United Methodist Church.