Ector E “Bud” Saunders

Ector E. “Bud” Saunders, 78, of Midland passed away on December 12, 2023

A Remembering Bud Service will be held at 3:00pm, Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Branch @ Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland, TX.

Bud was born on December 2, 1945, in Monahans, TX to parents Martha and Millard Saunders.  He grew up on a ranch near St. Lawrence, TX and attended Garden City schools until his family moved to Big Spring, TX where he graduated from high school in 1964.  He attended Howard College, Sul Ross, Texas Tech and received his bachelor’s degree from UT Arlington while working as a clerk in the Dallas FBI office.  He entered Special Agents training in Quantico, VA, in May 1972.  He graduated from the FBI Academy in August 1972.  He won shooting awards there and received his Firearm’s Instructor Certification.  He also went through Hostage Negotiation training.  Bud’s first assignment was in Gulfport, MS where he received his first letter of commendation for apprehension of a federal fugitive in 1973.  He was then transferred to the San Francisco office in 1974 and worked on the Patty Hearst kidnapping case.  Bud then moved to the Bank Robbery Squad in Oakland, CA where he received commendation letters in 1976 and 1979 for apprehensions of bank robbery fugitives.  He then worked undercover for the last year from the Oakland RA and attended the California Highway Patrol motorcycle training and bought his first motorcycle.  Bud was then transferred to the El Paso office.  There he worked another year undercover before being transferred to the Midland RA.  He received a commendation for his long-term undercover operation.  Before he resigned from the FBI in 1981, he received a plaque of gratitude from the Odessa PD Narcotics Division.  Bud then worked in Corporate Security for ConAgra Foods and United Agra Products until 2002.  He finished his career working in security and safety for various companies in Midland.

Bud married Margaret Jo Cook in Garden City, TX on June 9, 1967 and has two daughters and one son.  He is survived by his wife, Margaret, daughter, Jacque Leigh Lanning (Chris) grandson Garret of Houston, daughter Becca Saunders Benson (Paul) grandsons Connor, Tanner, and Corbin of Midland, son David Parker (Vicki) granddaughter Carlie and grandson Jacob of Dripping Springs, TX and granddaughter Therese Holmstrom (Bill) and great grandsons Hays and Alexander of Salem, OR, sister Pat Underwood (Loyd) of Big Spring, niece Dawn Byerley (Brad) of Canyon Lake, TX, great niece Paige Hatten (Blu) of Austin, great niece Sydnie Chavalah (Anthony) great nephew Everett of Sugarland, niece Tessa Covert (Ronnie) of Midland, great nephew Jess Brooks (Lynley) of Coahoma, great niece Alix Covert of Midland, great nephew Cass Covert of Lubbock, niece Cassie Dix (David), great nephews Mason and Riley of Ft. Worth, great nephew Grant Underwood and great niece McKeely Underwood of Lubbock, TX, sister Jaylene Oakes (Chip) of Grand Junction, CO, niece Tricia Oakes of Denver, niece Kate Foeman (Blake), great niece Isabella from High Point, NC.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Scott Underwood.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Drs. James Barnett, Ryan Vella, Juan Gil and the Midland EMTs, Sheriff Officers, and Investigator Ford who all responded to the 911 call.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Fix West Texas, or the organization of your choice.

Honorary pallbearers will be David Parker, Chris Lanning, Paul Benson, Loyd Underwood, Chandler Oakes, Billy Cook, Jake Carrington, and Ron Banks.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made to www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Ector E "Bud" Saunders, please visit our Tribute Store.