Vernon "Bud" Sterling

Vernon LeRoy Sterling Jr (Bud) was born on July 12, 1955, in San Jose, California. Bud passed away peacefully at home in Olympia, Washington on September 12, 2025, at the age of 70 after a brave, year-long battle against cancer.

Bud graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in San Jose in June 1974 and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1975, the same year he married his late wife, Stacy. Bud proudly served our country from 1975 to 1978. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a commercial truck driver, a career he loved deeply until his retirement in 2008. He loved driving truck so much that he never let his commercial drivers license expire, just in case.

After his driving career ended, Bud embraced what became his greatest joy, spending time with his daughters and grandchildren, especially babysitting his grandbabies, Layne and Indie. He delighted in babysitting and giving gifts to his loved ones, or even strangers in need. During one of his hospital stays, he bought lunch for the entire ICU floor. In another, he overheard a nurse mention her pregnant daughter was struggling, and Bud immediately put his daughters on the case to find out who she was so he could help. He truly had a heart of gold.

Bud was preceded in death by his mother Mary Evelyn (Koch) Sterling, his father Vernon LeRoy Sterling Sr, as well as his wife, Stacy Louise (Kennedy) Sterling. Bud is survived by his daughters Nina (Sterling) Sebastian and Jessica (Sterling) Chacon; sons-in-law Jason Sebastian and Logan Chacon; his grandchildren Kenneth Boettcher, Jacob Sebastian, Cody Sebastian, Layne Chacon and Indie Chacon; and his great-grandchildren Aiden Boettcher, KyLynn Sebastian, Thomas Sebastian, and Stella Sebastian. He also leaves behind countless nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and chosen family members.

Bud touched the lives of so many with his warm smile, selfless generosity, and kind heart. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.