Mr. Howard Thomas Bausum, age 79 of Frederick, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was the loving husband for 52 years of Mrs. Gwen Jordan Bausum. Born on July 20, 1933 in Kweilin, China he was the son of the late Robert Lord and Euva Evelyn (Majors) Bausum. Mr. Bausum completed high school at City College in Baltimore. He continued his studies at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He graduated with a BS in Biology in May of 1954. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he achieved his MS in Zoology in August of 1956. Mr. Bausum moved to New York City to study at Columbia University from 1956 -1958. His education was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army in 1958. He served his country until 1960 when he was honorably discharged. Following his service time, he enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin Texas and completed his Ph.D. in Zoology and Genetics, completing his degree in January of 1964. Mr. Bausum began his career as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology from 1964 -1965 at the Kansas School of Medicine, in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1965 he took on a job at Iowa State University doing research in Genetics and Fungi. He also taught graduate level courses in Microgenetics and Fungi. In 1968, he began working as a civilian employee for the Department of the Army as a Microbiologist at Fort Detrick. He spent two years, 1971 and 1972, writing publications for the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C. In 1972, he returned to Fort Detrick to work as a Microbiologist for the US Army Medical Bioengineering R&D Laboratory. In 1996 he continued his work as a Microbiologist, working for the United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine and The Edgewood Arsenal until he finally retired in 2009 at the age of 75. Mr. Bausum was a longtime member of South End Baptist Church, Frederick, where he served as a Deacon and a Sunday School Teacher of the Gideon adult class for many years. He was a member of Sigma Xi, a scientific research society, and the American Society of Microbiology. Locally he belonged to the FSK American Legion Post 11. He also enjoyed Civil War history and was a member of the Hagerstown Civil War Round Table. Mr. Bausum was the caring father of David Howard Bausum and wife Michelle of Frederick, Susan Lorene Pettas of Fitou, France, and Richard Jordan Bausum and wife Erika of Fongrave, Bordeaux, France. He was the grandfather of Anastasia Marie, Josiah David, Christopher Aaron, Rachel Victoria, Jonathan David, Rebekah Grace, Julia Ellen, Sarah Grace, Micah Robert, Aliyah Joy, and Isaiah Jordan. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Bausum Evans of Missouri and by many nieces and nephews. Mr. Bausum was preceded in death by his granddaughter Katerina Ariel Pettas in 2006 and his brother George Robert Bausum in 2012. Friends will be received on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 6 to 8 PM at the Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Funeral services are planned on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 11 AM at the South End Baptist Church, 506 Carrollton Drive, Frederick, MD 21701. Rev. J. Kenneth Stalls will officiate. The interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Bausum's name to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Care of the South End Baptist Church at the above address. Please view and sign the family guest book by going to www.keeneybasford.com.
