Deacon Anthony “Tony” Bube of Orange, died peacefully at home on Sunday, Aug. 15 at the age of 98. Up until the pandemic, Bube was still preaching at the 6:30 a.m. Mass each morning at La Purisima Catholic Church in Orange and greeting students as they arrived at school.
Bishop Kevin W. Vann presided at Bube’s funeral Mass on Saturday, Aug. 28 at La Purisima Church. Several students, past cantors and choir members participated in the Mass. Many others took the opportunity to speak fondly of Bube during a vigil held the night prior to his funeral.
Bube was beloved by the La Purisima community. Just last year a birthday parade was held in his honor outside his Orange home, with over 200 cars in attendance.
According to his obituary, Bube was born on Oct. 14, 1922, in Athens, Wisconsin. He was the oldest of 10 children. He served in the US Marine Corps, retiring as a Master Gunnery Sargent, E9, having served in both WWII and the Korean War.
Bube left school after the eighth grade to help on the family farm but continued his education throughout his life, earning his high school diploma with the Marines and eventually earning a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and a PhD from USC.
A teacher and school principal, Bube wrote a daily column for grade-school parents and published his columns for future parents once he retired. He also taught and mentored many future teachers at Chapman University in Orange.
He spent his retirement volunteering in the classroom and sharing his faith with families at La Purisima Catholic Church. He became a deacon for the Diocese of Orange and served La Purisima parish for over 30 years. Continuously inspired by his faith, he learned Hebrew at the age of 96.
Bube was preceded in death by his wife Marion, son Michael, brothers Peter and Ronald and sisters Edna, Ursula, Dorothy and Agnes. He is survived by sons Terrence (Joyce) and John (Becky); daughters Cecelia (Peter) and Mary (Tim); many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Tony is also survived by sisters Marie (Pat) Seubert, Peggy Burgess and his brother Bodo (Connie).
The family requests memorial donations be made to La Purisima Catholic School’s Endowment Fund which provides annual support for students in need.