Buzz Gildea, retired fire chief, veteran
Buzz Gildea, 80, of Lewes, formerly of Wilmington, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at Beebe Healthcare. He was born April 19, 1942, in Wilmington, son of the late Francis and Catherine Gildea.
Buzz proudly retired from the Air National Guard and was a career firefighter, retiring after 42 years as a battalion chief with the City of Wilmington Fire Department. His hard work and dedication earned him the respect of not only his peers but those who ranked above and below him throughout his tenure.
Buzz was a man of many interests. His hobbies ranged from home repair to ballroom dancing, and he enjoyed working outdoors and had a fascination with trains. Buzz caught a travel bug, and he loved visiting new destinations, both in the U.S. and abroad. Above all, he was a family man. Buzz cherished time spent with those he held most dear. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Loved by many, he will be deeply and genuinely missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.
In addition to his parents, Buzz was preceded in death by his brother, James Gildea. He is survived by his beloved wife of 15 years, Carolyn Gildea; his children: Carol-Anne, Jim, Ken, Cyndie and Matt; his stepchildren: Andy, Mike, Lyn, Dee, Jenni and Steven; his grandchildren: Jimmy, Nick, Kevin, Sarah, Zach, Leah, Jude, Megan, Ethan, Craig, Kiley, Maddie, Zoe, Leah, Camryn, Abi, Bryce, Mia, Will, Noah, Cali, Romy and Drew.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be held the following day at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Holy Cross Cemetery, N. New St., Dover.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Buzz’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, stjude.org/donate.
The family also asks that you remember Buzz by performing a random act of kindness for someone in need this week.
Visit Buzz’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
