ZENDE, Floyd W. "Butch," 63, of Wintersville, died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, in Trinity West.

He was born on April 25, 1947, the son of the late Floyd O. and Jacqueline Brake Zende.

He was the owner and manager of the Cee Ell Kennels.

Surviving are one daughter, Robin (Scott) Hilty of Richmond, one granddaughter, Sara Hilty and his former wife, Sandy Zende.

Butch served his country in the Marines in the Vietnam War and was a Silver Star and a Purple Heart recipient. He was a member of the Wintersville American Legion Post 557 and a member of the Jefferson County Humane Society.

Calling hours will be on Friday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Mosti Funeral Home Sunset Chapel, 4435 Sunset Blvd., where services will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Delbert Lash officiating.

Burial will be in Fort Steuben Burial Estates.

Full military honors by U.S. Marine Corp.
(information taken from www.weirtondailytimes.com)

Floyd Zende was a USMC Silver Star Recipient from the Vietnam War. His citation is printed as follows:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Floyd Wayne Zende (MCSN: 2280907), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 September 1967, Lance Corporal Zende's squad was conducting a routine patrol when a Vietnamese man and woman were observed fleeing from the Marines and running toward the hamlet of Tu Cau (3). Suspecting possible enemy activity, the Marines pursued the civilians and, as Lance Corporal Zende and two companions followed the woman into a house, they discovered her attempting to conceal the entrance to a tunnel. Unhesitatingly entering the tunnel, he found his passage blocked by a trap door. After he emerged from the tunnel, a hand grenade was thrown into the room from the cave entrance. Disregarding his own personal safety and shouting a warning to his two companions, he seized the grenade and threw it back into the tunnel where it exploded. Realizing that there might be another entrance to the cave, he ran to the rear of the house where he observed a Viet Cong emerging from the tunnel exit with a grenade in his hand. Reacting instantly, he killed the enemy soldier and effectively prevented the rear entrance from being utilized as a possible means of escape. A thorough search of the cave resulted in the capture of four Viet Cong soldiers and the seizure of two automatic weapons, several hundred rounds of ammunition, six grenades and numerous documents. As a result of his heroic and timely actions in the face of extreme personal danger, he undoubtedly saved the lives of his two companions and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Zende upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: September 18, 1967
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Company: Company M
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF