Melvin R. ?Bud? Ream, age 79, of Cookstown died Thursday, March 19 at Samaritan Hospice in Mt. Holly. Born in Allentown, PA he had been an area resident since 1968. Bud enlisted in the US Army Air Corp in 1948, serving in Europe during the Berlin Air Lift and the South Pacific during his early Air Force career. After numerous combat and peacetime deployments he retired with 28 years of service. During his career he received the following honors, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Oak Leaf, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army of Occupation Medal with Berlin Air Lift Device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and the NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon. Bud was also a Past Troop Commissioner for Boy Scout Troop 112 and a member of the Burlington County Order of the Arrow. He was a member of the North Hanover Senior Citizens and the American Legion Post #455 in New Egypt. He was a Life Member of the Cookstown Vol. Fire Co., holding positions of Past Chief Engineer and Past Vice President of the fire company. He was also a Life Member of the NJ Fireman?s Relief Association. Bud was also retired from Institute For Defense Analysis in Princeton as a Captain in their Security Services. Husband of the late Dolores J. Ream and brother of the late Estelle Price, he is survived by two sons, Michael Ream (JoAnne) of Cookstown and David Page (Phyllis) of North Hanover Twp.; a daughter, Donna Pianoforte of Newtown, PA; a brother, Robert G. Ream of Florida; five grandchildren, Heather, Nicole, Ryan, Kayla and April and a great grandchild, Isla. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 25 at 11:00 AM at the Chapel of the BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road in Wrightstown with burial to follow with military honors. Calling hours will be on Tuesday evening March 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and again on Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street in New Egypt (www.tilghmanfh.com). Memorial contributions in Bud?s memory may be made to the Deborah Hospital Foundation, 212 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 or to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.