Harold L. “Bud” Gurney, Jr. passed away on May 27, 2011 at age 87 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy G. “Dolly” (Nichols) Gurney with whom he shared 60 years of marriage.
Born on May 8, 1924 in Natick, Bud was the son of the late Harold L. and Martha (Cavanaugh) Gurney. He was raised and educated in Natick and a graduate of Natick High School, Class of 1943. Bud enlisted in the United States Army on May 20, 1943 in Boston and served with the 165th Engineer Combat Battalion in Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He earned the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the American Theatre Campaign Medal. After his honorable discharge on January 30, 1946 at Ft. Devens, Bud became a carpenter until his retirement in 1990. Bud was the great-grandson of Adna P. Hall who was the first soldier from Natick who was killed in action at the Battle of Antietam during the Civil War and is buried at Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, MD.
In addition to his beloved wife, Bud is survived by 2 sons, Daniel P. Gurney of Natick and Harold L. “Lee” Gurney, III and his wife Carolyn (Volk) Gurney of Natick. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Diane Marie Gurney who died on June 6, 2010 at age 57. He was the grandfather of Peter C. Woodward and his wife Stephanie (Allen) of Shirley, Laura Ann VanDorn and her husband Timothy of Framingham, Daniel Arthur Barker of Natick, Charlotte M. (Gurney) Hannon and her husband Michael of Natick, and Bryan D. Gurney of Shrewsbury; great-grandfather of Thomas B. “Tommy” Hannon of Natick and Chloe Ann Woodward of Shirley; brother-in-law of Margaret (Ronan) Gurney of Ashland; and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Henry Gurney, William “Billy” Gurney, Francis X. Gurney and his wife Marjorie (Denny), and Jane (Gurney) DiGiacomantonio and her husband Dominic.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 9-10 AM to be followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Metro West Home Care and Hospice, 85 Lincoln St. Framingham, MA 01702. For directions & online guestbook to leave messages of condolence & remembrances for the Gurney family please visit www.everettfuneral.com