William Buellis Jr.

William Thomas Buellis Jr., 75, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at his home.

He was born July 9, 1930, in Baltimore, Md., son of William and Alberta Tydings Buellis. He and Dorothy Ford were married April 8, 1949, in Pasadena, Md.

Mr. Buellis grew up in Anne Arundel County, Md. He attended Southeast Bible College in Lakeland, Fla.

He served in the Coast Guard.

Mr. Buellis was a self-employed building contractor and had been a builder since he was 19 years old. He built the chapel, dormitories, and two staff houses for Teen Challenge, and many churches in the Northeastern United States. He moved to Cape Girardeau in 1992 and continued to work until recently.

He was a member of Cape First. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Buellis of Cape Girardeau; two sons, John Buellis of Sikeston, Mo., Larry Ritter of Westminster, Md.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Jane and Dr. Robert Perry of Cape Girardeau, Bonnie Buellis of Westminster; two sisters, Virginia Gold of Pennsylvania, Victoria Buellis of Florida; four grandchildren, Christine Perry, Candice Perry, William Perry and Mikey Perry.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

The funeral will be at the funeral home Sunday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Gary Brothers officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Teen Challenge or Cape First Building Fund.