Herbert Orin “H.O. Bud” Ernst Jr. passed away peacefully on Friday, September 4th, 2026 at the age of 87. Dad was born and raised in Prescott, Arizona. He attended Menlo College in Atherton, CA and then joined the Marine Corp, which he described as a highlight of his young life. Once honorably discharged he returned to Phoenix to study business. During this time, he met and married our mother, Carol Kennedy. While working for a finance company in Phoenix, dad was transferred to Yuma to open and manage a local branch. While in Yuma, a business serving creditors was for sale and Mom & Dad decided to buy it, making Yuma their home and where they raised their four kids, Sabrina, Julie, Stephen & Gina. Bud served as president of the Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma and was a central figure in the club’s community and youth initiatives. Dad was also an early and lifelong member of the Caballeros de Yuma, which among many other important community serving initiatives, helped secure Yuma as the San Diego Padres’ first spring training home. Also, as a Caballeros and civilian pilot active in the local flying community, dad acted as a direct liaison between the civilian flying community and military aviators, creating a personal and enduring bond between the town and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Serving the community through these civic organizations was something dad enjoyed immensely and was the source of many wonderful and lifelong family friends.

In 1998, Dad married Sandy Martin, a childhood friend and classmate from Prescott, Arizona. They recently celebrated 28 happy years together, and always cherished most their time spent with family.

Bud is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Jane and Herbert Ernst Sr. He is survived by his wife Sandy Ernest, his sister Susan (Phil) Oelze; his four children, Sabrina, Julie (John) Deck, Stephen, and Gina (James) Gorges; their mother, Carol (Rufus) Artmann; his grandchildren, Kennedy, Andrew, Grace, James, and Emily; and his wife, Sandy Ernst.

Dad’s warm smile, humor, generosity and devotion to his family, friends, employees and community will be cherished always, and his love of time with family will live in our hearts forever. A memorial service will be held on October 3rd, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Desert Valley Mortuary, 138 N. Avenue B, Somerton, AZ 85350. We will follow the memorial with lunch at Lute’s Casino. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Crossroads Mission, Wounded Warrior Project or a Veteran’s charity of your choice. Thank you.