Avon Mann Trask

Avon Mann ""Bud"" Trask, 90 LAKELAND - Avon ""Bud"" M. Trask, 90, of Lakeland, passed away at Good Shepherd Hospice House from complications of Alzheimer""s disease. Bud was born in Terra Ceia, Florida on August 25, 1923 to Beulah Perkins Trask and Robert Barnett Trask. The Trask family returned to their hometown of Lakeland a few years later. Bud""s grandmother was from the Mann family, true pioneers of Polk County who moved here in 1866 at the close of the Civil War. Bud""s grandfather""s ancestry traces back to Captain William Trask, one of the founders of Salem, Massachusetts. Bud, his 2 brothers and 3 sisters were close their entire lives and spent a good deal of time with their local cousins, aunts and uncles. He was a life guard in his teens at the Lakeland public pool. When Lakeland Senior High School held the inaugural football game at Bryant Stadium on September 25, 1941, Bud took the field as a tackle, jersey 99. He played football for the Dreadnaughts in 1940, 1941 and 1942. He lettered as manager of the basketball team, and served on the military training team prior to his enlistment in the Navy after graduation from LHS in December of 1942. He spent several years in flight school for the Navy as an Ensign and graduated just as WWII ended. He spoke often of his love of flying and it was a love he returned to later in life. His father passed away about the same time the war ended and Bud""s days as a Naval Aviator ended with his honorable discharge. He returned home and soon after married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Williford. The couple settled down to a happy life together, and raised 3 daughters. After a few years as a citrus contractor, Bud began his career in finance with Universal CIT in 1947. First State Bank of Lakeland recruited him as a Vice President for their office on S. Florida Avenue. Ownership of the bank transferred to Barnett Bank, then to Bank of America. Bud remained as a Vice President until his retirement in 1987. Many of Polk County""s car dealers and businessmen were started on the road to success with Bud""s assistance over the years. Bud was active during his life with First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, serving on committees and as a Board Member. He was an active member of the Sertoma Club and chaired several fund raising committees. He also volunteered with the United Way and was Chairman of the Governmental Division of the Fundraiser Drive in 1966. During his lifetime Bud was known as a fair and honest man, respected by those who knew him, and dearly loved by his family. He was kind, generous, patient and a quiet spoken man who rarely said an unkind word of others. He had a strong bond with his grandsons and taught them many practical skills and life lessons. Other than planes, Bud""s hobbies involved the outdoors. He hunted quail and deer throughout the state as a younger man and continued to hunt occasionally as he got older. When his girls were young the family loved to travel into the Blue Ridge Mountains to hike, camp and enjoy the cool of the mountain air. He loved to fish and that hobby involved the growing family. He particularly enjoyed sharing his love of boating and fishing with his daughters, son-in-laws and grandsons. Family gatherings were prominent at their residence on Lake Arietta in Auburndale with watersports and fishing a constant. Those gatherings later included weekends at their second home on Homosassa River. He and his wife, Elsie, who was also a pilot, often flew their plane on trips through the Southeast. Bud was preceded in death by both parents, Robert and Beulah, brothers Perkins, George, sisters Eunice Carter, Betty Kantor, and Dot Cleghorn. He was also preceded in death by his wife Elsie his eldest daughter, Susan, and great granddaughter, Hannah Murphy. He is survived by two daughters, Sandra Trask Swanson (Bob) and Beverly Trask Murphy (Mike), both of Lakeland. Bud also has 5 grandsons, Michael Trask Murphy (Annah) of Apollo Beach, Patrick Trask Murphy (Keri) of Riverview, James Thomas Murphy (Stacia) Ft Myers, Robert Trask Swanson and Jason Trask Swanson, both of Lakeland, and seven great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Thursday July 17, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church immediately followed by a reception at the church. The family will have a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 3450 Lakeland Hills Blvd Lakeland 33805. Service: 07/17/2014 First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive