Our beloved Bud went to be with our Savior on Saturday, May 9, 2015, surrounded by his loving wife Charlotte and family. Born January 13, 1932 in Seattle, Bud lived a full and wonderful life, leaving behind the fingerprint of his love on his children Steve, Cheryl (Claude) and Pat (Sue); grandchildren Nathan (Heather), Ashley (Gregory), Tiara (Karim), AJ, Cassie (Kevin), Sherry and Jill; great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Nathaniel, Parker, Elijah, Austin and Jack. Bud also leaves behind brothers Jim (Janet) and Jerry (Fran), sister Lois (Bob), and sister-in-law Patricia Sherry. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Bud made the most of every opportunity in life. Meeting the love of his life at the tender age of 10, he and his “Annie” cherished 62 years of marriage.
Memories from Charlotte: “Most of us know him as Bud, so I will call him Bud now. Bud was my loving husband for 62 years. We met at Van Asselt Grade School in Seattle in 1942 when we were both in 5th grade. I can still picture him standing out on the playfield the very first day he came to school. He had such perfect posture I went home that day and told my folks about the new boy who stood so straight! He claimed that he remembered me coming up and saying hello to him and introducing myself to him. We went through Cleveland High School together. We had our first date (I asked HIM) to our band party when we were Juniors. He was very shy, very cute, and all the girls had a crush on him. The night of our graduation from Cleveland, he asked me if I would like to go to a party with him at one of his friend’s parent’s home. Of course I was thrilled and went. After graduation Bud attended the University of Washington for a short time, but then decided to leave and join the Air Force. He called me and asked me if I would go with him to the Greyhound Bus Depot in Seattle to see him off for his Basic Training in Texas. His Mom and Dad and I were there together, and I was already falling in love with his family as well as Bud. While he was away I would go over and spend weekends with the Hammacks. He was sent from Lackland Air Force Base to Goosebay, Labrador. Back then we didn’t have email, cell phones, etc. We each had a wire recorder and would send wires back and forth; and letters every day, too. Bud proposed to me in a letter, and as soon as I said YES, he sent a letter to my parents asking their permission to marry me. We were engaged on Valentine’s Day in 1952 and then married August 23, 1952. Soon after that God blessed us with our first son, Steve on June 1, 1953. We were blessed again with our daughter, Cheryl on December 21, 1956, and blessed AGAIN with Patrick on December 30, 1958. Bud was the most loving husband any woman could ever have. Every single day he would tell me over and over how beautiful I was, or how pretty, or how good my hair looked. I was so blessed with his love.”
Throughout those years together, Bud spent time in the Air Force as a Staff Sargent, worked as an FBI agent, served as a special agent for the IRS Criminal Division, and was a partner as a Certified Public Accountant. He loved the discipline of exercise, biking, jogging, fishing, boating, golfing and spending time with his faithful companion dogs (Toy, Misty, Bonnie, Ben and Sammy). In the 1980’s, he ascended Mt. Rainier and completed the Seattle to Portland bike ride numerous times. Bud was a huge UW Husky fan, having held football season tickets for over 50 years, and many years following the men’s basketball team.
Bud’s faith in Jesus Christ played a vital role in his daily life. He took the opportunity to share the love of his Savior with many people, serving as an Elder at Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue. Bud passed along his love of God to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is with great confidence that each of us know that Bud was met by Jesus hearing the words, “Well done, faithful servant. You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race and you have kept the faith.”
A Memorial Service to celebrate Bud’s life will be held on Thursday, June 18, at Crossroads Bible Church, 15815 SE 37th Street, Bellevue, Washington, 98006, at 10:00 AM. Internment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042, with full Honor Guard, gun salute and Taps at 1:30 PM.
As a family, we are so thankful for the incredible compassion and care that Evergreen Hospice Services provided to Bud that allowed him to spend his final days at home in the loving care of his family as he suffered from Lewy Body Dementia. It would be wonderful if you honored Bud by making a donation to either of these fine associations in his memory.
Lewy Body Dementia Association
912 Killian Hill Road, S.W.
Lilburn, GA 30047
Evergreen Hospice Services
Evergreen Health Foundation
12040 NE 128th St., MS 5
Kirkland, WA 98034-3098
A Memorial Service to celebrate Bud’s life will be held on Thursday, June 18 at 10 am.
Crossroads Bible Church
15815 SE 37th Street
Bellevue, WA 98006
This church is right off of highway I-90 in the Eastgate neighborhood.
If you are coming up 405, take the I-90 EAST exit, and then Exit 11-A. Go straight on 11-A until the road splits, then bear to the right and go straight ahead to a traffic light and straight thru it. Keep going on this road past a small shopping center with Baskin Robbins, Albertson’s, O’Reilly Auto Parts on your right, stay to the right and go straight ahead to the very end of the road. The Crossroads Bible Church is at the very end of the road.