Buddy Ford Dobson was born on July 24, 1931 on his family farm in the Green Valley Community of north Denton County, Texas to George Ford Dobson and Bessie Lee Whitlock.

Buddy attended the Green Valley School from the 1st through the 8th grade, then Denton High School before graduating from the North Texas High School in 1949.

Buddy started working in his adolescence doing farm work and traveling the summers working a combine for harvest with best friends R.D. Martin and Billy Jack Hollingsworth. His first job off a farm was working at Mike Stephens' Conoco service station in Denton when he was 17.

When Buddy turned 18 he went to work for the Ford plant in Dallas before a serious knee injury at the plant left him unable to work for a short time. During that time he was drafted for the Korean War but was not able to serve because of his knee injury.

In 1950 Buddy met Bessie Lou Smith on the Denton Courthouse Square. Buddy and Bessie married on June 28, 1952 at the Little Chapel in the Woods at TWU in Denton.

After their marriage Buddy worked at the Conoco station again, then as a machinist at Dallas Auto Parts, followed by R&R Motor Supply an automotive machine shop in Denton.

In 1954 Buddy went to work at the new General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington where he started before the first car was shipped off the line and worked for 34 years until his retirement in 1988. He often worked long hours, one time working 95 hours in one week. He held various jobs at the plant but most as a mechanic and repairing engines. He was a proud and loyal GM employee and a proud member of the United Auto Workers Union Local 276 as well as a lifelong Democrat.

Buddy remained dedicated to the Green Valley Community serving as a founding member of the Green Valley Cemetery Association for many years including personally mowing and maintaining the cemetery.  He was also a member of the Green Valley Historical Society and was integral in the journey to preserve the Green Valley School House.

Buddy was a dedicated member of the Denton Community. He was Baptized in 1959 at Grace Temple Baptist Church and later a long-standing member of Gateway Church of Denton. Buddy was a proud volunteer for the Denton Police Reserves from 1962-1977 and then a Reserve Deputy for the Denton County Sherriff's Office from 1977-1983. Buddy was also a member of the Early Automotive Club in Denton along with several of his lifelong friends who shared his love for cars.

In addition to Buddy being faithful and devoted son, his most important roles were as a husband, father, and grandfather. Buddy and Bessie Lou were married for 69 years, had 3 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters, June Goodner and Jewel Meador and son-in-law Nim Ashley, and his wife of 69 years Bessie Lou.

Buddy is survived by his three children, Donnie Dobson (Nancy Dobson), Susie Autry, and Brenda Ashley (Wes Tilley); four grandchildren Heath Autry (Allison Autry), Megan Dobson-Garza (Christian Garza), Jennifer Salazar (Jesse Salazar), and Caitlyn Ashley (Jonathan Allen); two great-granddaughters Tatum Hayes Autry and Stevie Lou Salazar.

The family will receive friends for visitation at 1:00 pm prior to the service at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 5, 2025 at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home 705 N. Locust St. Denton, Texas 76201. Burial following at Green Valley Cemetery, 6496 FM 2153 Aubrey, Texas 76227.

Buddy's pallbearers will be Heath Autry, Jonathan Allen, Jessie Salazar, Mark Goodner, Jim Goodner, Russell Madden and honorary pallbearer Walt Brazeal.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the

Green Valley Cemetery Association

c/o 1501 Eufemia Dr.

Denton, Texas 76207-7757