James Meredith Buzbee

James Meredith Buzbee was born February 3, 1930 in Wichita Falls, TX to Bluford Aubra and Clara Louise (Cantrell) Buzbee. He passed away March 28, 2015 in Mineral Wells. He grew up in Santo and Mineral Wells and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1953. He married Erna Mae (Teinert) Buzbee on May 28, 1954 in Austin, Tx. They were married for 60 years.Jim was an inventor and engineering enteprenuer patenting many products. With the help of friends and family he started his own telecommunications company, Industrial Technology Incorporated. The company went from a garage venture, growing to become an international business from 1966 until 2001. He purchased a small plane and became a pilot to help facillitate sales.Jim was actively involved in leadership in the Rotary Club, 1st Presbyterian Church, and many other civic organizations including the Palo Pinto and Mineral Wells Historical Associations, the board of Palo Pinto General Hospital, the Mineral Wells Water Board. Always seeking to preserve Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County history and to create a better Business environment to help the local economy, he served as Mayor of Mineral Wells from 1992 until 1994, helping to create "Rails to Trails" and the Loving-Goodnight Trails Pageant.After selling the company in 2001 Jim and Erna Mae spent much of their retirement years sailing up and down the east coast traveling as far south as Honduras and north to Maine and later settled down to sail on Canyon Lake south of Austin. They and their extended family traveled extensively for pleasure and education creating many happy memories along the way.He and Erna Mae started The Buzbee Foundation which has given to many worthy causes locally, nationally and abroad.Jim has been a musician for many years hosting a Wednesday night "Pick and Sing" at his home and playing in local venues with his "picking buddies". He loved the country, hunting and fishing on the family ranch outside of Santo.Jim loved his family, loved his friends, and loved his community and he will be missed by all.Services will be 2 PM Monday, April 6, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Woodland Park Cemetery. Visitation is Monday from 1 PM until service time at the church.He is survived by his wife - Erna Mae Buzbee, three children- Brad Buzbee, LeLynn Wilson, and Carla Osborn and eight grandchildren - Rachael, Brent, Lisa and Stephen Wilson and Trent, Eric, Avery, and Andrew Osborn as well as his brother - Charles Aubra (Chuck) Buzbee, his nephew - Martin Buzbee, and great niece, Rylan Buzbee.