Lieutenant Ralph Colby “Buzz” Buzzell passed away peacefully on August 02, 2023, in New Braunfels, TX. He was born May 17, 1941, in Caribou, ME, to Colby and Phyllis (Kelley) Buzzell. While young, the family moved to Ontario, CA, where he grew up alongside his younger brother and sister, Calvin and Phyllis.
From an early age, he displayed remarkable talents, mastering the violin and cello, excelled in tennis, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Chaffey High School and Central Washington University.
On January 13, 1962, Buzz married his beloved Penny (Rardin) in Ontario. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before Penny’s passing in July 2022. One overriding calling to which Buzz and Penny never wavered was being dedicated supporters of missionaries and their local church.
Buzz joined the Navy at the age of 17 as an Aviation Electronics Technician, climbing the enlisted/warrant ranks to retire as a Lieutenant with over 22 years of service. His naval career took him from SoCal and Key West to NAS Millington, TN, where his sons Bob, Doug, and Tim were born, to NAS Fallon, NV, and finally, in 1972, to NAS Whidbey Island, WA, where they would live for over 30 years (with 2-years in Klamath Falls, OR, in the early 80’s). In 2004 they moved to Snohomish, WA, to be near their grandchildren.
Even in retirement, Buzz continued to contribute his expertise to the maintenance and operations of EA-6B Prowler and A-6 Intruder aircraft, working for Northrop Grumman Aerospace aboard aircraft carriers at sea with the Navy for another 15 years.
Buzz is survived by his brother, Calvin, and wife Mai of San Juan Capistrano, California; his sister Phyllis Pettit and husband Jim of Juliaetta, Idaho; his son Robert Colby (CAPT, USN Ret) and wife Sherry of New Braunfels, TX, along with their children Jessica, Ross Colby and his wife Jill and their son Ryan Colby; his son Douglas, an Army Veteran and IT Specialist of Seattle; and his son Timothy (Monroe WA, Detective, Ret) with wife Cherie of New Braunfels, TX, and their children Lauren, Alex, and Emilee and her husband Dusty Lindelius.
As Buzz reunites with his beloved Penny, a military funeral at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery will take place on Tuesday, August 22, at 9 am.
