Theodore Francis Businger

Theodore Francis “Ted” Businger, age 88, of Salem, Arkansas died Monday, May 28, 2012 at the Ash Flat Health and Rehabilitation Center of natural causes. He was born June 4, 1923 in Wichita, Kansas, the second of seven children, to Maurice Businger, Sr. and Lillian Loveless. Ted grew up in Solon, Ohio in Cleveland with his siblings Maurice, Jr., Florence “Sally”, Virginia,'45 James '47, Thomas '48 and Mary'52. In high school, his friends called him Pete, and he moved in to care for his grandfather, Arnold Businger, who had owned and operated a circus earlier. He graduated high school in 1941 and joined the US Marines in February 1942 to fight in the South Pacific. Ted joined the Marines in February 9, 1942 and served until November 1945. He was involved in rescuing Eddie Rickenbacker, the American fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient, whose aircraft went down in the Pacific close to Japanese forces. He was decorated in the war with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Before he left he gave his girl, Catherine M. Carr, one of a pair of Indian moccasins, promising to fill those moccasins when he returned. When he got off the ship a few years later, he was holding the other. The couple wed on June 27, 1946 in Ohio. The couple bought a farm in 1947 in Ohio, and then moved to California in 1952 where he worked for Hunter Engineering Co. as a machinist. He retired in Evening Shade, Arkansas in 1979 and renovated a pre-Civil War home. He flew an airplane before he drove a car. Ted counted among his friends, barnstormers, wing-walkers, including women wing walkers, and World War II fighter ace, “Pappy” Boyington. After the San Diego Aerospace Museum arson fire in 1978, Ted was contacted to replace many items and corrected several errors in the history of aviation by his research. He wrote aviation history articles for Vintage Airplane. The Ted Businger Aviation Library was donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s South Central Ozarks Chapter 1218 in Willow Springs, Missouri. He is survived by his son, Herbert Businger, of Alamagordo, New Mexico, Theodore “Ted” Cucuro-Businger, a missionary for the Jehovah Witnesses in Mexico City, Mexico, his daughter, Catherine, and son-in-law, Patrick Day, of St. Marie, Idaho, his daughter, Rosemary and son-in-law, Charles Swope of Springfield, Missouri. He is survived by 3 grandchildren, Paul Businger, Wanda Day and Brian Swope. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Businger and Margaret “Pat” Wem, in Parma Heights, Ohio, and his sister, Mary Koye, in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He is survived by 23 nieces and nephews: Marianne Heinzen, Patricia “Patty” Businger, Donna Gilhoey; Marilyn “Mickie” Marchinsky, Thomas Marchinsky, Robert Marchinsky, James “Jimmy” Marchinsky; Peggy Businger, Sandra “Sandy” Cunningham, Nanette Businger, Jeanette Businger, James Businger, Thomas L. Businger; Thomas J. Businger, Michael Businger, Robert “Bob” Businger, Richard Businger, Margaret “Margee” Spurio, Maureen A. Businger; Susan Koye, Frank Koye, Diane Koye and Joseph Koye. He is survived by 3 cousins, Donald Businger, John Businger and Pauline “Polly” Businger. He was predeceased by his wife, Catherine M. Carr, (February 7, 2000); 4 siblings, James Businger (February 1980), Virginia Businger (May 2, 1994), Maurice Businger, Jr. (July 6, 1996) and Florence “Sally” (February 22, 2009), his granddaughter, Bonnie Businger (September 6, 1970), and 3 nieces, Eileen Businger, Jr. (September 1979), Linda Marchinsky (March 19, 1953) and Donna Marchinsky (May 27, 1995). His interment is at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cherokee Village, Arkansas alongside those of his beloved wife, Catherine.