Bud Fletcher: How Did Bobbie Nelson’s Ex-husband Die?

Bud Fletcher was the husband of American pianist and singer, Bobbie Lee Nelson. Bud’s ex-wife Bobbie Nelson was a member of the band, Willie Nelson and Family. She was the sister of American country singer, guitarist, and songwriter Willie Nelson. Her solo debut album, Audiobiography was released in 2008. She was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Bud Fletcher: Bio Summary

Who Was Bobbie Nelson’s Ex-husband, Bud Fletcher?

Arlyn Elwood “Bud” Fletcher was born on 9 May 1925, in Brandon, Hill County, Texas, USA. Fred O. Fletcher and Robbie Booker Fletcher were his parents. He was the brother of Doris Marie Fletcher Hollingsworth and Mary Belle Fletcher. He was reportedly a con artist and a “smooth-talking salesman”. He met Bobbie Nelson after he had returned from service in World War II. He was six years older than Bobbie.

“He was just so charming. Oh, man, was he charming,” Bobbie recalled. Bud Fletcher took Bobbie Nelson to dance halls and honky-tonks and through him, Bobbie was introduced to a crowd of rowdy artists and swindlers, many of whom were “very fine people,” as Bobbie revealed. Bud and Bobbie decided to get married. They married when Bobbie was just sixteen years old. She adopted Bud’s last name and graduated high school as Bobbie Fletcher.

Bud Fletcher who did not have any musical abilities, created his own band called Bud Fletcher and the Texans. His wife Bobbie joined on the piano and her brother Willie Nelson sang and played guitar and their father, Ira, on rhythm guitar, according to a source. “When I got married, Bud immediately organized our first band,” Bobbie said. “He loved Willie, and Willie went with us on all of our dates.”

“He also loved to dance and to drink beer, and he knew all the joints in West and Waco, which Willie and I had never been to. It was a big beginning for me.” Bud served as the band’s director and promoter. The band played in honky-tonks, and also had a Sunday morning spot at KHBR in Hillsboro, Texas. “Every night we’d do different things: Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff,” Bobbie once recalled. “We did all of the old stuff.”

“We listened to our radio after we got electricity and could hear all this music, the Grand Ole Opry, the Louisiana Hayride, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams. And every time we’d hear a song on the radio, we’d learn to play it by ear.” Eventually, the band was disassembled in 1955. At the time, Bud Fletcher who was sick and Bobbie Nelson were being forced to separate. “I never did want to divorce him,” Bobbie said.

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“I really loved the man. We didn’t either one want a divorce. But Bud was sick, and I think it was due to drinking. I might be wrong about that, but I was very young and didn’t know exactly what the problem was.” Bud and Bobbie’s union was blessed with three children, all sons. Their children are Randy, Michael, and Freddy. Bud and Bobbie got divorced. Bud’s parents were given custody of Bud and Bobbie’s children.

Bobbie lost custody of her sons for playing in honky-tonks. She was considered unfit although she had never drunk in her life. “They didn’t want me playing in those joints. But I never took a sip to drink, I never broke the law,” Bobbie said. “I was broken, my spirit was crushed. I had to get my boys back.” Bobbie fought to get custody of her children. Bud passed away and Bobbie suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a hospital in Fort Worth.

Bud’s ex-wife Bobbie had to get married again to get custody of their children. “I remarried because the judge said I needed to remarry to get my children. And they told me that I couldn’t play, that I couldn’t enter inside any place that served alcohol. I didn’t have any reason for them to take my babies away, but they did,” she said. Eventually, Bobbie Nelson was able to get back her sons and she moved to Austin, Texas.

How Did Bobbie Nelson’s Ex-husband Die?

Bud Fletcher died in a car accident on 25 September 1961, at age 36, in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA. “It broke me,” Bobbie disclosed. “I was totally broken and actually ended up with a complete physical breakdown. It took me years to recover. I was not able to raise up without passing out – that was what it kind of amounted to – and I spent a lot of time in the hospital in Fort Worth.”

ALSO, READ: Myrle Marie Nelson: What happened to Willie Nelson’s mother?

Bud Fletcher was buried at Ridge Park Cemetery, Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas, USA. His ex-wife Bobbie Nelson died on March 10, 2022, at age 91, in Austin, Texas, U.S. She was surrounded by family, according to a statement from her family. “Her elegance, grace, beauty and talent made this world a better place. She was the first member of Willie’s band, as his pianist and singer. Our hearts are broken and she will be deeply missed. But we are so lucky to have had her in our lives. Please keep her family in your thoughts and give them the privacy they need at this time.”