Dr. Elwood H. Needy age 90

JULY 26, 1931  -   April 25, 2022

Born July 26, l931 to Dr. Elwood K. Needy and Lucille B Needy in Booneville, Missouri.

Devoted husband of Shirley (nee Ruck) for 65 years.  Loving father of Cindy (John) Hanff, and Wendy (Kurt) McDougal.  Beloved grandfather of Kenneth (Jessica) Hanff, and Caelan and Ethan McDougal.

Preceded in death by his sister Sally Hess.

He was never comfortable being called Elwood, so he went by his nickname of either "Bud" or "Doc".

He graduated from St. Louis University Dental School in l958 and practiced dentistry at 3115 Brown Road, St. Johns, Missouri for 40 years.  He belonged to the Greater St. Louis Dental Society for 40 years.

Bud had many interests. He loved playing golf and spent many hours on the golf courses, not only here but in Illinois as well.

Bud was an avid reader, always carrying a book with him to read whenever he went somewhere.  He loved books on history, but also loved books about famous people, and some fiction.

After he retired he became fascinated with miniature trains and built a complete town in his basement with the trains traveling around the town.

His love of boating started at an early age when his father had a boat on the Mississippi River when he was a child. He bought a wooden inboard boat shortly after he got out of dental school and eventually bought a clubhouse which he has had for over 60 years. He spent most of his summers learning to ski and teaching his daughters to ski.

Even though he tended to be a quiet person, nothing gave him more pleasure then to be able to tell jokes and to tell stories to his friends and family. He loved hearing them laugh.

He loved dressing up in nice clothes.  He said once that when he died he wanted to be laid out two nights so he could dress up twice.

When his three grandsons were born he loved being a part of their life, babysitting whenever he was needed. He loved when they would come to the river and  loved going on boat rides with them.

His greatest pleasure was providing a loving home for his wife Shirley and his two daughters Cindy and Wendy. Their home was always open to their friends and family and several young men said that he was a great role model for them when they were growing up.

We will all miss him and his quiet ways.

Visitation at the Ortmann Funeral Home, 9222 Lackland Rd., Overland, Friday, April 29 from 4-8 pm. with Funeral Service Saturday, April 30 at 10 am. Interment Bellerive Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Autism Speaks.

Ortmann Funeral Home   www.osfuneralhomes.com