Harry Bihm, Jr.

Opelousas - Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2018 for Harry Tracy "Buddy" Bihm, Jr. in the Skip Montet Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas. Deacon Scott Payton will officiate the services. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery in Palmetto. Visitation will be held at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. - time of service on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Harry Tracy "Buddy" Bihm, Jr., age 84 and a native of Palmetto, passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.

Tracy was a native of Palmetto, La. He graduated from Palmetto High School in 1953, where he was pitcher on its baseball team. Tracy was drafted in the Army in 1956 and served honorably for 2 years as a mechanic. He enjoyed liberties by being proficient in his field and at the same time was able to participate in his beloved sport of drag racing. Most of his time was spent at Fort Hood, TX. Upon his discharge, he returned home to work alongside his parents as a mechanic in their shop and service station in Palmetto. He was considered an expert mechanic and always ready to modify motors to get the maximum horsepower.

He married Earline in 1964 and they had three children. On summers when she was on break from teaching school, they would take family vacations and load everyone up into the suburban. Trips were often a few thousand miles long and Tracy drove most every mile.

In the mid ‘70s he rebuilt a '56 Chevy that he pulled from a junkyard and modified it to run on aviation fuel. He drag raced for several years at State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen, La. He became an expert on modifying race cars and people drove for miles to have him work on their cars.

He enjoyed planting and caring for plants. He often made trips to Forrest Hill, La. to nurseries with an empty trailer, and would return home with a full one. He also loved exotic plants. He often took long rides on weekends on either his motorcycle or car.

The first grandchild appeared in 1995. There were seven grandchildren in total. He was proud of his family and traveled frequently to wherever they were to visit.

Tracy retired 22 years ago. He and his wife, Earline, traveled around the U.S. driving to most of the states and into Canada. He also enjoyed riding a bicycle around Palmetto and catching up on all the news.

Tracy participated in the St. Landry Cruisers in the late 90s. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of cars with others and looking at what others had done to their vehicles.

Tracy will be greatly missed by numerous relatives, friends and car enthusiasts.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Earline Hernandez Bihm; sons, Kelsey Otto Bihm and wife, Cindy of Spring, TX and Eric H. Bihm and wife, Angela of Clinton, LA; daughter, Sandy Bihm Zarwulkoff and husband, Steve of Houston, TX; sisters, Elaine Andrepont of Opelousas, Patricia Nugent of Chapin, SC, Brenda Morris and husband, Charlie of Dallas, TX and Wella C. Bihm of Palmetto; grandchildren, Courtney, Nicholas and Ashley Bihm, Lauren and Matthew Bihm and Alyssa and Ashton Zarwulkoff; and sisters-in-law, Dolores H. Mills of Cecilia, Estelle Boudreaux and husband, Silton of Palmetto and Jacqueline Chapman and husband, Ray of Lafayette.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Tracy Bihm Sr. and Augusta Buschel Bihm; brothers-in-law, Vernon Mills, YC Andrepont and Adam Nugent.

Pallbearers will be Eric Bihm, Kelsey Bihm, Nicholas Bihm, Matthew Bihm, Steve Zarwulkoff and Keith Boudreaux.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to St. Thomas Catholic Church - Cemetery Fund in Palmetto, LA or to Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to his caregivers: Lorraine, Nancy, Keith, Kasey, Marilyn and the Hospice Team at Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Visitation

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, May 14, 2018
9:00 a.m. until time of service

Service

Funeral Service

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home Chapel
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, May 14, 2018
1:00 p.m.

Cemetery

St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery
Palmetto, LA  71358