Col Frank C. Budd, USAF (Ret.)

Frank C. Budd, Colonel, United States Air Force (USAF), PhD of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024. He was 66 years. He was born May 21, 1958, in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in Phoenix, AZ.

Col Budd served 24 years in the USAF ending his career as the Mental Health Flight Commander for the 60th Medical Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California. The Mental Health flight was one of the largest in the USAF with a staff of 53 providing a range of outpatient mental health services to inpatient psychiatric consultation.

Throughout his military career, Col Budd conducted training programs and wrote seminal handbooks for Air Force leaders on suicide awareness, workplace violence, critical incident stress management, and other mental health issues. As a result of his expertise, he served as Clinical Psychology Consultant to both Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command Surgeon Generals. Col Budd was selected by the Air Force Surgeon General to brief the national media on the success of the Air Force Suicide Awareness Program, appearing in both Air Force Times and ABC Weekend News. He also has fourteen publications on military psychology and mental health matters. He was an invited speaker at a variety of forums, including the U.S. Army Behavioral Health Symposium and the South Carolina Psychological Association.

As one of the most highly honored Air Force psychologists, Col Budd most notable awards included: American Psychological Association (APA) Award for “Distinguished Contributions to Practice in the Public Sector” in 2003; the Society of Air Force Clinical Psychologists Award for “Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Air Force Psychology” in 2000; and the Achievement Medal for Outstanding Performance of Mental Health Services in Support of the Operation Desert Shield/Storm (Gulf War) in 1991. He was award three Meritorious Service Medals during his military career.

After retiring from the military Frank worked in higher education where he assumed positions as the Director of Counseling and Substance Abuse Services at the College of Charleston for eight years and as Counselor at Charleston Southern University for four years. He enjoyed counseling students and training Master’s level Counselor interns.

Frank counted his family and his strong faith as his greatest legacies. He met the love of his life, Patty McGrath Budd, while completing his PhD in Educational and Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri Columbia. Together they were blessed to share nearly 40 years of marriage and have three loving children. Frank actively supported and participated in homeschooling his children taking them on many field trips. He cherished his time with Patty especially walking on the beach together. He loved playing golf with his children and brother. He enjoyed watching superhero movies with his son Aaron, reading books with daughter Kelsey, and eating his daughter Lizzie’s homemade pizza. His appreciation for classical music came from his mom.

Frank came to know the Lord through Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) while stationed at Scott AFB in 1988, learning how to be a “servant leader.” He then started and led OCF studies at new military assignments. After retirement he led several local men’s and couples’ Bible studies. As a voracious Bible reader, his favorite verse was Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

He is survived by his wife Patty and his children: Lizzie Budd Zabojnik (Matt) of Dallas, TX, Kelsey Budd of Charleston, SC, and Aaron Budd (Libby) of Columbia, SC; his mother, Marilyn Budd of Phoenix, AZ; brother, John Budd of Phoenix, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. His father, Frank G. Budd, preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Citadel Square Church, 328 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina. A reception will follow in the church hall. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made to Lowcountry Pregnancy Center or Ezekiel Ministries, ezeministries.org in Frank Budd’s name.

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