Martin "Bud" Charles Dokes

Martin Charles (Bud) Dokes, 91, of Mint Hill, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2024. He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Gail, and seven children – Rick McClain, Kim (McClain) Carpenter, Myron Dokes, Marty Dokes, Patricia (Dokes) Dowdy, and Kristie (Dokes) Urich. He is predeceased by one daughter, Melinda (Dokes) Cash. He was Papa Bud to 13 grandchildren. Bud was a devoted father, grandfather, Korean War veteran, and craftsman whose life was marked by faith, service, and a passion for building and problem-solving.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bud proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force for 8 years.

Like his father before him, Bud became a Freemason as a young man and was a proud member of the brotherhood for the remainder of his life.

Bud was a master craftsman, working in construction and carpentry for 65 years. More than just a job, woodworking was Bud’s art form. Whether building custom cabinets, clocks, stained glass windows, or supervising the construction of large-scale commercial buildings like hospitals, Bud’s craftsmanship was second to none. His meticulous attention to detail and innovative problem-solving earned him a reputation as the go-to expert for construction conundrums, with a knack for finding creative solutions to perplexing problems.

One of Bud’s favorite pass times for many years was riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and he was a proud member of the Harley Owners Group (HOG). As a younger man, he could be found on evenings and weekends in his garage tinkering with his motorcycles.

Bud was a faithful member of Matthews United Methodist Church and was dedicated to his faith in Christ. For over 20 years, he and Gail were members of the Shepherd Sunday School Class.

Bud will be dearly missed by family and friends alike. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in Bud’s name either to the Wounded Warrior Project or Atrium Health Hospice and Palliative Care Union County Fund.