Buddy Tatum
May 13, 1943 — August 24, 2016
Otha Labon "Buddy" Tatum, known as the "Bug Man", age 73, resident of Somerville and husband of Mary Elizabeth Culver Tatum, departed this life Wednesday evening, August 24, 2016 at his residence.
Services of Remembrance for Mr. Tatum were conducted at 3 P.M. Sunday, August 28, 2016 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. Personal remarks were given by Mike Atkeison, McKenzie Tatum and Dylan Tatum. Special music was provided by Steven Kight, Dylan Tatum and Anthony German. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - West Chapel at Oakland.
Mr. Tatum was born May 13, 1943 in the Laconia Community. He received his education in the Fayette County Public School and was a lifelong resident of the Somerville area. He was married November 10, 1967 to the former Mary Elizabeth Culver and he was of the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Tatum was employed as a pest control agent, most recently with Allied Pest Control, having made over 70,000 pest control calls before his retirement. He enjoyed dancing, fishing, hunting and cars, with the Corvette being his dream car.
Mr. Tatum is survived by his wife 49 years, Mary Elizabeth Culver Tatum of Somerville; two sons, Donald R. Tatum (Susan) of Oakland, Charles L. Tatum (Melissa) of Oakland; two sisters, Gretta Faye Tatum German of Somerville, Mary Elizabeth Tatum Bell of Somerville; his brother, James Murrell Tatum(Mary Jane) of Somerville; and three grandchildren, McKenzie Tatum, Dylan Tatum and Madison Tatum Pardue (Josh).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Otha Tatum and Fannie Mae Stainback Tatum; two brothers, Gordan Rabon Tatum and Infant Tatum; and his grandson, Thomas “Tom Tom” Kee.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Rodney Tatum, Jr., Tyson Barnes, Ronnie Glover, Robert Jacks, Steve Glover and Mario Jones. Honorary pallbearers included Terry Tatum.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Madonna Learning Center, 7007 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN 38138.