Fred Lloyd Bussa

Private services for Fred Lloyd Bussa, 92, of Nacogdoches, will be held at Pine Knot Cemetery with Pastor Brent Bullard officiating.

Fred Lloyd Bussa, Jr., 92, of Nacogdoches, TX passed away Saturday, July 30, 2022.

Fred was born February 20, 1930, in Houston to Emily Janzen and Fred Lloyd Bussa, Sr. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1949, lettering in both track and football. He continued his football career for Baylor University until 1951, when he felt the call to serve his country and answered by proudly joining the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. While on active duty, he devoted time to sharing his love for Christ with others and, in 1953, joined The Navigators, an international ministry founded in 1933 by a US Navy sailor. That same year, he was hand selected based on the education he received at Baylor to receive specialized technical training at Eta Jima Specialist School in Japan and as such, was training he drew upon later in life. Following combat duty where he earned 3 service medals, Fred not only continued his service as a Sergeant in the Marine Corp Reserve until 1959 but was also given the unique opportunity to strengthen his ministry works with The Navigators at their headquarters in Colorado Springs.

Fred and Mary Ann McKinney met at Berachah Church (Hebrew for “blessing”) in Houston, TX through Mary Ann’s grandmother, L.W. McKinney, who was a charter member of Grace Bible Church, Nacogdoches where they were married in 1964. They celebrated 52 years of marriage.

Fred was an accomplished sailor actively involved in racing catamarans and competing in numerous regattas as a member of Galveston’s oldest centerboard sailing club, the Seabrook Sailing Club. In 1973 he elected to retire, leaving his position as an engineer with Brown & Root (later Kellogg, Brown & Root or KBR) to move with his family to Nacogdoches to take over the family farm established in 1879. In addition to farming and ranching, he served in multiple capacities for the city of Nacogdoches including draftsman, engineer, Community Development Assistant Director and Building Official. His pursuit of knowledge resulted in earning the designation of “Certified Building Official”, a certification obtained by very few officials across the nation.  Additionally, he served as President of the East Texas Building Inspectors Association as well as obtaining membership in several other related professional organizations. 

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann McKinney Bussa. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Kevin Westerfeld, Sr., daughter and son-in-law, Claudine Elizabeth (Libbey) and Waverly Duggar, and his four grandchildren, MacKinnon Westerfeld, Kevin Westerfeld, Jr., Elizabeth Westerfeld, and Emily Duggar.

Fred found great trust in Isaiah 53.

A private graveside service with military honors with will be held at Pine Knot Cemetery, Chireno, TX officiated by Pastor Brent Bullard of Grace Bible Church.

Memorial Donations may be made to Grace Bible Church, 315 Hayter Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75965, or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, Texas 75701

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