ANABEL AMANDA LATHROP BUDDEE

1930-1988

By Marlyn Lathrop Derby, edited & updated by JoAnne Douglass Leppo

​

Born May 24, 1923, City of Portland, County of Multnomah, State of Oregon. Anabel is the eldest of four girls born to Inis Esther Russell-Lathrop and Earl Henry Lathrop. Her middle name, as a point of interest, comes from Earl’s mother, Amanda Charlotte Riedesel-Lathrop. Raised on the dairy farm her parents owned, she started working right along with her father as a young teenager until she finished high school, putting up and delivering milk to customers. It meant hard work, early mornings and late evenings. The two of them, Anabel and her father, were always close. He affectionately called her “Tiny” as she was his tiny little girl/buddy always at his side. When Anabel graduated from high school, she went into medical training at a private school in Portland, Oregon. The training was to serve her well. She called upon her training when her son faced tough medical circumstances.

​

Anabel met Rudolph Sackett Buddee, II and they were married in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, on May 2, 1942. After their marriage, they continued to live in the Portland area. When World War II began, Rudy was drafted and Anabel, who by then was pregnant, moved back to her folk’s home where she remained until Rudy’s tour of duty was completed. Their son Rudolph Sackett Buddee, III, was born January 23, 1943, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Having a young son to support and care for, Anabel went to work in the shipyards, welding hulls and inspecting parts—she was that “Tiny” little gal who could crawl into the small spaces of a ship’s hull.

​

After the war, Rudy and Anabel moved to Corvallis, Oregon, while Rudy completed his education at Oregon State University. After he graduated, Rudy accepted a position at Western Gear, Seattle, Washington.

​

Three months later, Rudy was commissioned to the US Army Chemical Division. He was later to receive his Masters from New York University, while stationed in New York. After Rudy was called back into active service for the Korean War, Anabel enjoyed military life living all over the US until 1967. By the time, he had completed his military tours, he had accrued so many years in the service, they decided to continue his military service through to retirement. Rudy’s tours took him overseas, and across the United States. Anabel, not only a good wife and mother, became a loyal military wife, traveling with Rudy until their retirement in 1967, when they moved one final time to settle in Portland, Oregon.

​

They were to know tragedy; they lost a daughter, Andrea LaVonne Buddee, who was born in the City of Dugway, Utah, on December 11, 1957. Tragedy occurred a second time when their son and only living child, Rudolph III, was hit by a truck head-on (the driver, partially blind, and erroneously on the Interstate, didn’t even see Rudolph.) Rudy was still in the service at the time, but Anabel, calling upon her educational background and God’s help, dedicated her entire efforts to her son’s health and recovery. Today, we are continually blessed with Rudolph’s presence in our lives.

​

When Anabel and Rudy returned to Portland, she served as President of the Gideon Ministry Women’s Auxillary and as President, speaker and coordinator of Christian Women’s Club. Anabel, a very classical, petite lady, had a love for the piano. All her life, she studied the piano and later gave lessons. She is a born again Christian and served with her husband in the Gideon’s. She also enjoyed many hours of sailing with her beloved husband, family, extended family and friends. Anabel moved to Arizona in 1998 where she became active in the Pebblecreek community.

On March 5, 2013, Anabel went home to be with her Lord and Savior at age eight-nine years old.