Eager to serve in the military, Bud enlisted in the Coast Guard in December, 1942 only to be medically discharged in January of 1943. He returned home, recovered and immediately re-enlisted in the Army in September, 1943.
Bud married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Wroot on May 16, 1944 in Springdale, Ohio. Bud and Betty met as very young children in Sunday school and began dating when they were Juniors in High School. Bud told Betty he noticed her for as long as he could remember.
Bud was one of our few remaining “Greatest Generation” WWII Veterans who served as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Army Airborne in Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was discharged on January 16, 1946.
He took great pride in his service and displayed his patriotic spirit by raising the American flag on his front yard flagpole every morning for many years.
Bud and Betty welcomed their only child, Richard Michael, on November 30, 1947. Hamilton, Ohio was home to Bud, Betty and Michael until moving to Fort Collins in May, 1956.
Bud had a career as a ranch broker with Max Welty as “Western Ranch Corporation” and as “Bud Swartz Realty”.
Bud loved the out-of- doors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and shared many of his outdoor adventures with Betty.
In May of 2014, Bud was taken on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. The recognition he received during this trip made him realize he was a true “American Hero”.
He is survived by his wife Betty, grandson Robert Swartz, great grandson Baron Swartz, granddaughter Alana Waldo and great grandchildren Cameron and Emilia Waldo of Alma, Nebraska.
Bud was preceded in death by his son, Michael on July 13, 2018, his parents, and two sisters.
The memorial service for Bud will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, CO on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Donations in lieu of flowers, to be made payable to the First Presbyterian Church, in care of Allnutt Drake Chapel, Fort Collins.
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First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
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