Leon “Bud” Francis Champlin Sr., 98, of Narragansett, passed away Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Born in North Kingstown, he was the son of the late Leon Mayfield Champlin and Madeline (Dillion) Champlin. He was the husband of the late Madeline Jane (Whaley) Champlin. Bud served in the Merchant Marines during WW II. After his return home, he laid out plans for an eastern rig dragger to his father-in-law, Cliff Whaley, a local ship builder and third generation of Point Judith Lighthouse keepers. Bud and his family assisted Cliff in building his 48-foot fishing boat, “Jane Lorraine”. In December of 1948, Bud, while fishing with Cliff Whaley and his brothers John and Kenny, dragged up a live bomb leftover from WW II. Just before the net reached the surface, the depth charge exploded. The boat and crew were towed back to port and assisted by Babe and Howard Whaley, Jack and Chet Westcott, Norman Gilbert and Dub Barrows. The fishing community was a close tight knit group of men, always there for one another. After repairs and adding a 12-foot piece to the middle of the “Jane Lorraine”, she continued to fish for another sixty + years with Bud as her captain, finally retiring at age 86. Bud was one of the founding members of the Point Judith Fishermen’s Co-Op. Bud’s father (Brownie) and six brothers were all in the fishing industry. Bud was the oldest active fisherman in Point Judith and earned the respect and admiration of the fishing community as a great in-shore fisherman. He towed more boats back to port than the Coast Guard, in his day. He was a friend to all and first to help a fisherman in need. He is survived by his children, Lorraine Goff, Gary Champlin, and Colleen Champlin; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Goff, Ronald Goff Jr., Jennifer Holcombe, and Matthew Champlin; and his brother, Robert Champlin; 7 great grandchildren and one great grandson on the way. He was predeceased by his son, Leon F. Champlin Jr.; his granddaughter, Katie Champlin; and his siblings, John, Kenneth, Paul, David, and James Champlin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 2, 2021 at 11am in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 864 Point Judith Road, Narragansett. Burial will follow in Elm Grove Cemetery, North Kingstown. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bud’s name may be made to the Point Judith Fishermen’s Scholarship Fund, PO Box 386, Narragansett, RI 02882, or HopeHealth Hospice, 1085 N Main St, Providence, RI 02904.