Oscar Dahlstrom

Oscar "Bud" Dahlstrom, age 89, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, with his wife by his side.

Oscar was born on February 3, 1933, in Mt Pleasant, Michigan, the son of Carl Eric Gustaf Dahlstrom and Carrie "Luella" Valentine Dahlstrom.

Oscar enlisted in the Air Force in 1953, after training, he was stationed overseas in Alaska until 1957 as a Basic Airman and mechanic. After his service in the Air Force, Oscar moved to Miami, FL where his sisters lived and met the love of his life, Patricia Benfield. Oscar "Bud or Buddy as his sisters called him" lived in Florida for many years and was employed at Eastern Airlines, where he started a family while he worked as an airline mechanic later he advanced to a foreman position. During this time at Eastern Airlines, Bud would often take odd jobs during airline strikes to continue to provide for his family or was transferred to another airport. One place is Atlanta, GA where he lived for 2 years before returning to Miami with his family. Here they raised their three children. Years later Bud decided to become an entrepreneur and moved to Valdese, NC, where he became the owner/operator of the Western Auto Associate Store. In 1983, Bud returned to Florida, this time to Orlando, accepting a Managerial position with a newly opened branch of a commercial janitorial service, Southeast Services. When the Orlando branch was closed, Bud decided not to move his family to the company's Miami headquarters. After searching for the right endeavor for himself he decided to help his son grow his business, Franklin Building Maintenance Services. Bud and his son Frank were able to expand the small company into a commercial business. Orange and Seminole County government properties were among their many customers. Bud continued to oversee his workforce and assist with individual tasks when necessary until he retired in 2009.

Anyone who knew Bud would tell you what a fun, happy, and pleasant jokester he was. When he was with his wife and their daughter he would always joke by saying, "This is my daughter by my first wife" (of course she was his daughter with his only wife) or when introducing his son would say, "This is the milkman's son", as he had a temporary job driving a milk truck when his son was born. Bud enjoyed hosting cookouts for his family and friends, bowling, and playing cards, but mostly he loved his Miami Dolphins Football Games. Anywhere he went he made friends with everyone he happened to meet. Constantly receiving comments about how "Sweet" he was. He never left anyone without a smile on their face. Bud absolutely loved his family as he made a daily habit of telling them how much he loved them and how proud he was of all of his family!

Bud will be missed by his wife of 64 years Pat, daughter Beverly and husband, David Norman, of Morganton, NC, sons Robert "Bob" and wife Joy, of Jacksonville, FL, and Frank and wife Barbara, of Orlando, FL, grandsons Jonathan and Justin Norman, of Morganton, NC, and Christopher Dahlstrom and wife Sarah, of Cocoa, FL, granddaughters Grace and husband, Kambiz of New York City, NY and Jessica Norman, of Morganton, NC, along with his older sister Clara "Dixie" Gibson, of Orlando, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl Eric Gustaf Dahlstrom and Carrie "Luella" Valentine Dahlstrom, brother, Carl Dahlstrom, sisters, Helen Lessard and Ida Edwards, and grandson Joshua Norman.

Bud liked to say, "Don't put flowers on my grave", as a way of expressing you should do nice things for people when they are alive. He wanted to continue to bring smiles to others even now. Bud expressed his wishes "in lieu of flowers" please give, send, or donate to someone, a cause, or an organization to bring help or happiness during someone's life.

No services planned at this time.

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