Thomas “Bud” Benoit, age 80, a member of a large well known Tewksbury family, died Monday morning, December 24, at the Manchester V.A. Hospital with his loving wife at his side. He was the beloved husband of Joan M. (Smith) Benoit, with whom he had celebrated a 54th wedding anniversary this past April 6th.

He was born in Tewksbury, June 2, 1932, one of nine children of the late Arthur and Agnes (Hurley) Benoit, and had remained a Tewksbury resident, and communicant of St. William’s Church, throughout his life. He served in the Army’s Transportation Corps in Korea during the Korean War.

He was a retired truck driver for the M.W. Leahy Trucking Company in Ayer, and a member of the AFL-CIO Teamsters, Local 170 in Worcester.

Bud was a devoted family man, father, grandfather and beloved great grandfather, who enjoyed time away from home camping throughout New England, and on the Maine seacoast in Wells, Maine. He was awarded numerous trophies for his ability to throw horseshoes and win tournaments. He was also a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox.

Besides his beloved wife, he is survived by three children, Thomas M. Benoit, and his wife Kathleen (Nawn) of Merrimack, NH, Chuck Benoit and his wife Debora (Doucette) of Tewksbury, and Jo Ellen (Benoit) Sullivan and her husband Jeffrey of Londonderry, NH; five grandchildren, Stephanie Benoit of Woburn, Conner Benoit of Tewksbury, Madison, and twins, Ethan and Nathan Sullivan all of Londonderry; two great grandchildren, Riley and Taylor; two sisters, Agnes David of Billerica , Mary Turcotte of Tewksbury; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Gladys Benoit and Dorothy Benoit both of Tewksbury, and Elsie Benoit of TX, Sally and Stephen Defina of FL, Patricia and Rick McCarthy of Hudson, NH, Nancy Hadlock of Dover, NH, Sandy and Roger Gallarneau of Fl; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur Francis Benoit, John H. “Jinks” Benoit, James Howard Benoit, William Benoit, Raymond “Sonny” Benoit, and Robert Benoit; and a sister-in-law Linda Bistany.

Visiting hours are Friday, Dec. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home. His funeral will be held Saturday, Dec. 29, at 9:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial with Army honors will follow in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Manchester V.A. Hospital, Volunteer Services for Palliative Care, 817 Smyth Rd., Manchester, NH , (Address) will be appreciated.