Richard Gustin

Richard Bradley (Bud) Gustin of Aguila, Arizona passed away on the evening of November 20th, 2011, at Del Webb Hospital in Sun City West, Arizona. Bud was 80 years old. Engaged in a brave fight against cancer for about two and a half years, Bud went to be with the Lord while surrounded by his family. Bud was born on November 24th, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard and DeReba McKibben Gustin. He and his sister, Adrienne grew up near Bethesda, Maryland. Bud served in the Air Force, and he married Betty Jo Brooks on January 17th, 1953 while stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. In 1955, after Bud served four years in the Air Force, he and Betty moved to Lansdale, Pennsylvania with their eight month old son, Alan. They settled in Lansdale and bought a home there. In 1956, their daughter Carol was born. Bud attended Penn State University, where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After working at Cleveland Crane and Engineering, he formed a business partnership called BBG, Inc., where Bud designed and sold materials handling systems. Bud retired from the business in 1985. Bud loved sailboats and sailing, and he owned two sailboats before spending seven years building the 44-ft. Cherubini sailing yacht, Ecstasy. After launching Ecstasy in 1983, Bud and Betty lived on board for 2-1/2 years, sailing around the Carribean and the northern coast of Venezuela. Bud loved Latin-America and South America. After selling Ecstasy, Bud and Betty bought a modest home in the hills overlooking San Jose, Costa Rica in 1990 and owned that place for 17 years. They still have many friends there. Legend told of a cache of gold treasure in Bolivia, buried by Jesuit priests as they were being expelled from South America by the Spanish government in the 1700's. Bud organized an expedition to Bolivia in 1990, where he and several friends would search for this gold treasure, which was reported to be buried in a remote location in that country. Though the gold was never found, Bud and his four friends from Pennsylvainia, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland had an adventure of a lifetime. Bud and his friends would return to Bolivia for a gold dredging expedition in 1992. Bud had a private pilot's license and flew until he started his business. In 1980, he started work on an experimental airplane project in a small rented garage in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. In 1996, part way through the project, the Gustins moved to Arizona, where their daughter, Carol lived. Once there, they built a house and airplane hangar on a 5-acre parcel at Eagle Roost Airpark, in Aguila, AZ, where Bud continued work on the airplane. The Seawind is an experimental, four-place amphibious airplane, and was Bud's last project. He contributed much to the design modifications needed for the use of a Pratt & Whitney, PT-6 turbine engine in place of the stock, IO-540 Lycoming piston engine. Bud continued work on the Seawind project until he became too ill to continue. Bud was loved by all who were blessed by knowing him. Bud loved to give advice, and enjoyed conversation about any topic from airplanes to politics. Bud is survived by his wife, Betty Gustin; son, Alan Gustin (wife Valerie Gustin); daughter, Carol Madden (husband Todd Madden); grandson, Zach Madden; grandson, Zane Madden; granddaughter, Alison Gustin; grandson, Evan Gustin; nieces, Georgia Faino and Lynn Wright. Bud also leaves behind a number of extended family members, and many friends across the country and overseas. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister. A small, private memorial service was held for the immediate family at Wickenburg Funeral Home. A public celebration of Bud's life will be held at Sunday, March 4th at 2:00 PM at Eagle Roost Air Park at 47825 N. 510th Ave. in Aguila, AZ 85320