RALPH C. 'BUD' BUYER FREEPORT - Ralph C. "Bud" Buyer, Freeport's Master Watchmaker for more than 60 years, passed away on September 7, 2013. Ralph was born on September 3, 1918 to John Godfried and Anna Sophia Ablertina (neé Zimmerman) Buyer, in Forest Park, Illinois. He served in the Army Signal Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. Before his ultimate discharge from service, Ralph was posted to Schick Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Ruth LydiaMohrman. He charmed her with his cheeky sense of humor and fell for her wry smiles. The couple married in April of 1945. Ralph and his bride moved to Lisle, Illinois, while he attended Elgin's Watchmakers College. Upon graduation, the couple moved to Freeport, where he served Luecke's Jewelers as a watchmaker and registered jeweler. He was the official inspector for local trainmen's watches for both the Milwaukee Road and the Illinois Central Rail Roads. Ralph and Ruth raised two sons, John, of Palatine, IL, and Paul, of Summerville, SC. He was father-in-law to LisaAnn Shianna Buyer and Megan Henrich Buyer. He was the grandfather of Kate, Laurie, John, Charlie and Jack; great-grandfather to Jacob. He was Uncle Bud to many nieces and nephews. His parents, his wife, siblings Viola, Leona, Grace, and John predeceased Ralph. Ralph cherished his annual trips to International Falls, Minnesota, where he could fish the waters the waters of Lake Kabetogama. His most sacred daily ritual was morning coffee at the Emmert's lunch counter. Ralph was a member of the Germania Club, the Elks, and AmVets. He served as a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the Kraft Music Choral in the 1950s. Ralph "officially" retired from Luecke's Jewelers in 1982, but continued to work part-time until age 90. In 2010, after an extended illness, he relocated to Lutheran Home, in Arlington Heights. Friends may call at Burke-Tubbs Funeral home on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. The funeral will be Thursday morning at 10 a.m.; internment will immediately follow in City Cemetery. Visit the guestbook at www.burketubbs.com.