Guild, Jr. Bertram C., 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 3, 2015 at Palm Gardens of Pinellas while under the loving care of his wife, family, Suncoast Hospice and the staff of Palm Gardens. He was born on October 9, 1920 in St. Catherines, Ontario Canada and was a WWII veteran, serving honorably in the United States Army Air Corps, South Pacific Theatre. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara (Billie), daughters Theresa Guild, Barbara Handville (Ray), Laura Johnston (Dennis), sons Bert III (Debbie), Mike (Lisa), Paul (Liz), 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Bert (Bud) was born in Canada to Lorraine and Bertram C. Guild, Sr. He graduated from Benedictine High School in Richmond, VA at the age of 14 and moved with his family to Savannah, GA at the age of 17. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted (after several attempts) in the US Army Air Corps, where he served as a turret mechanic on bombers. He was on 10 different islands in the South Pacific and earned 8 battle stars. Upon completion of his service he returned to civilian life in Savannah, where he met the love of his life, Barbara “Billie Ruth” Robbins. After a short courtship, they were married on May 29, 1948. After 5 years of marriage, they started a family, and true to staying disciplined, had 3 girls, and then 3 boys. He retired from CBS Publications at 62 years old, however he continued working until the age of 75.
Visitation will begin at 12:00pm and memorial service will be at 1:00pm on Thursday, April 9 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7851 54th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL (727) 546-3315. Burial will be at 10:30am on Friday, April 10 at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241, (877) 861-9840.
To the entire Guild family, my heart is heavy with your loss. I know how much your presence meant to me and my family with the passing of my brother Michael last year and hope that my presence in your time of need has the same meaning. We spent many years together and though time has taken us on different paths, the comfort of being a family will always remain. Your dad will always be remembered by the Forrest kids.
Thinking of you all.
Richard Forrest