Buford Maits, 83, of Dyersburg, died Thursday, July 16, 2009 at his residence.

He was retired as a submariner for the U.S. Navy, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War where he served many years in a submarine, retired as an instructor of inertial navigation, was from Dyersburg and Palm Harbor, Fla., and retired from the city of Dunedin, Fla., as a water-pollution control operator.

Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Monday at Fyrne Lake Farms on Lenox-Nauvoo Road with the Rev. Kenneth Griffith officiating. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, Diana Griffith and husband, Kevin, of Dyersburg and Palm Harbor, Fla.; a son, Stan Braman and wife, Janet, of Tallmadge, Ohio; a daughter-in-law, Jeannie Braman of Wausau, Fla.; a sister, Katherine Coley of Mobile, Ala.; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rita B. Maits, in 2008; a daughter, Cecilia Campbell; two sons, Donald Braman and Kenneth Braman; his parents, Harold and Ruth Bryars Maits; and a brother, Vernon Maits.