No Picture - Tracy, William B. 5/14/1925 - 8/6/2022 Saline Bud Tracy, 97, passed away peacefully Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Brecon Village. He was born on May 14,1925 to Frances and Sylvester P. Tracy in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Ann Arbor the summer before his senior year in high school, where he lettered in both football and swimming at Ann Arbor High. He joined the Navy that January and was given the necessary credits to graduate. His basic training was in San Francisco where his fondest memory was learning to drink boilermakers with his shipmates and sneaking out on weekends to watch football games. From there he headed to the Pacific theater on a munitions ship. He served in the Lion Four task group, ensuring the supply and refit of the Pacific Fleet from Manus Island. Upon returning to Ann Arbor at the end of the war, he enrolled at Eastern Normal, joined a semi pro football team and started a career at Michigan Bell, where he worked for over 30 years. He also met the love of his life, Constance Hopps, whom he later married on June 26, 1948 at St. Andrews Church in Ann Arbor. They had two children, Mike and Sue. Bud worked hard his whole life and loved his family. He enjoyed helping others and being active. Over the years he worked his way up from a lineman climbing telephone poles to a position in management. During his younger years, Bud rode on ten 300 mile bike trips and one 500 mile trip across the United States. He and Connie camped throughout the country and backpacked to the base of the Grand Canyon. During his later years they also traveled with the Pittsfield Seniors, making several trips to Europe and Mexico. An avid swimmer, he broke the state record for the Master's 1500 yard freestyle. Bud also served the Boy Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster for almost 40 years. He led his troop for 20 years to summer camp and the 1973 National Jamboree. Later he served on various committees for the Boy Scout Council, and he remained connected to the telephone industry as an active member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He taught Sunday School for many years at Trinity Lutheran Church, including summer church camp. Bud's passions included Bingo, vanilla ice cream, Sudoko, reading and a good joke. He always drank whole milk, and Budweiser (as he'd say, "Budweiser made Bud wiser"). But, there's nothing Bud loved more than his wife, Connie. He was a fervent Michigan Wolverine football fan and held season tickets to the Big House for many years. He and Connie walked to the games and visited every Big 10 football stadium and the Rose Bowl. His family will miss his great sense of humor, loving strength, and wisdom. He leaves behind his wife of 74 years, Connie, daughter, Sue (Larry) Gunderson , grandchildren Tim Tracy, Trevor (Katie) Gunderson, Rebecca Witkow, Tracy (Justin) Nelson, Sean Tracy and Heather Tracy, seven great granddaughters, and many nieces and nephews along with his friends at Brecon. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Pat and Barbara, and son Mike. He will be remembered as a proud veteran, devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great grandfather and friend of many. A celebration of Bud's life will be held at Brecon Village in Saline, Michigan on Friday, September 30th at 2:00 p.m. The Tracy family would like to give a special note of thanks to Kelly and Robert for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Boy Scouts of America. "What you leave behind is not engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others".