Charles Boyette was born in 1928 in the Atlanta community of Chickasaw County..
His father died at his age 5. Until age 15 he and his family lived with or near his grandfather while working on his farm for an old black man (John Nolen) who ran the farm. Everything Charles learned about work until age 15 and a lot about life was from this old black man. After serving a short tour in the U.S. Navy (Oct. 1945-Jan. 1947), Charles Graduated from Woodland High School in 1948 while attending Prairie High School and Trades Training Institute (TTI of Miss State College) a former War Plant at Prairie MS. Charles married Ethel Edwards of Houston MS June 5, 1949 and he and Ethel worked his way through 4 years of college in 2 years and 9 months graduating 24 May, 1952 with a BS degree in Public Administration (Pre-Law) and a commission as 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force Reserve. He worked with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Clarksdale MS for one year after graduation from Miss State until entering active duty with the Air Force at Sheppard AFB, TX at Wichita Falls 7 June 1953. He and Ethel have 3 children, Charles served in the U.S. Air Force from 7 June 1953 to 1 April 1972, at which time he retired in the grade of Major at Columbus AFB MS with a total of 20 years military service. Stateside tours of duty or service in the Navy included San Diego CA Naval Training Station Oct.-Dec. 1945; and U.S. Navy Receiving Station, Shoemaker, CA Dec. 1945-Feb. 1946, Yerba Buena Island CA Nov 1946-Jan. 1947. Overseas tours or visits while in the U.S. Navy while stationed aboard the oil tanker, USS SabineAO-25, included Shanghai China 1946, Colombo Ceylon 1946, Singapore 1946, Bahrien & nearby Saudi Arabian oil ports 1946 and Hawaii 1946. Stateside tours in the Air Force in addition to Sheppard AFB, where he entered active duty included Frances E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne Wyo. 1953-1954; Spence Field Pilot Training Base, Moultrie Ga. Feb-June 54; ATC Moody AFB Valdosta Ga. 1954-1956; Amarillo AFB TX 1960-1962; Kelly AFB San Antonio TX with USAFSS (Security Service) 1965-1967 and Columbus AFB MS 1971-1972.Overseas tours with the Air Force included AACS Tachikawa AB Japan 1956-1960, USAFSS Misawa AB Japan, 1962-1965, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing Takhli AB Thailand, 1970 and 14th Aerial Port Sq. Cam Rahn Bay AB, South Vietnam, 1970-1971.
Submitted by Charles Boyette
Charles "Bud" Boyette
(February 23, 1928 - January 25, 2012)
CHARLES "BUD" BOYETTE
Charles Eugene "Bud" Boyette, age 83, of Steens, MS, passed away January 25, 2012, at his residence. Graveside services will be held Friday, January 27, 2012, at 2:00 PM at Houston, MS, City Cemetery with Rev. Ben Butler officiating and with full military honors. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 26, 2012, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home. Mr. Boyette was born February 23, 1928, in Atlanta, MS, to the late Irvin and Sevilla Faulkner Boyette. He was a graduate of Mississippi State University and retired from the United States Air Force. Mr. Boyette also worked for 17 years in civil service at Columbus Air Force Base and was a member of Caledonia United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Ethel Edwards Boyette of Steens, MS, sons, Charles Eugene Boyette, Jr. and his wife Lucy of Grenada, MS, and Joseph Stephen Boyette of Raleigh, NC, daughter, Michele Boyette Kross and her husband Major Kenneth Kroll of Caledonia, MS, grandchildren, Delane Boyette, Stephanie Booher and her husband Dan, Tracie Parker and her husband John, and Marcus Doss and his wife Tina, and 11 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be the Columbus Air Force Base Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to the Caledonia United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1, Caledonia, MS, 39740.
