G. Duane "Bud" Vieth

Mr. Vieth, son of Walter E. and Irene Vieth, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. When he was five, his family moved to Davenport, Iowa, which he always considered home.

He attended the University of Iowa before volunteering in 1942 for the U.S. Army Air Corps. A technical sergeant, he served as a B-17 radio operator-gunner with the Eighth Air Force, 100th Bomb Group, 351st Squadron, stationed in England. In the post-war years, he volunteered to support the work of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation.

After 28 bomb missions over German-occupied territory, Mr. Vieth returned in 1945, finished his undergraduate education at Iowa and earned his law degree there in 1949. He was editor-in-chief of the Iowa Law Review.

In 1949, Mr. Vieth joined the firm then known as Arnold, Fortas & Porter as an associate, becoming the ninth partner in 1954. He served as managing partner of Arnold & Porter from 1965 to 1981 and as the firm’s first chairman from 1981 to 1989.

Primarily an antitrust and trade regulation lawyer, Mr. Vieth argued cases in courts around the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The conference center at Arnold & Porter’s Washington office is named in his honor.

Early in his law career, Mr. Vieth was involved in the firm’s renowned pro bono practice, including representing government employees accused of disloyalty in the McCarthy era. He also assisted Abe Fortas on the landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright which extended the right to an attorney for those accused of serious crimes.

In 2015, The Legal Services Corporation created the G. Duane Vieth Leadership Development Program, a national grant initiative to support training in legal aid leadership skills.

He served as a trustee of the Federal City Council in Washington and the Iowa Law School Foundation. He established two funds that support academics at the law school. He was a member of the University Club, the Metropolitan Club, the Union League Club of Chicago, Burning Tree Club, Columbia Country Club, and Jonathan’s Landing in Jupiter, Florida.

While living in Georgetown as a young lawyer, Bud met Jane Galloway Richardson, formerly of Reidsville, North Carolina. The couple wed Feb. 16, 1952, and enjoyed 65 wonderful years together until her death in 2017.

Bud is fondly remembered by a wide circle of friends from the law office to the golf course, and from his military unit to the church. He and Jane worshiped and served at Calvary Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD.

Mr. Vieth was preceded in death by son James Richardson Vieth. He is survived by a sister, Marjorie Kimmel and a brother, George W. Vieth (Jane), both of Davenport, Iowa; sons Peter D. Vieth (Gwen) of Roanoke, VA., and Robert R. Vieth (Amy) of Bethesda, MD.; daughter Jane “Jenny” Vieth Merlo (Bill) of Charlotte, N.C. and nine grandchildren: Brian (Hannah), Claire, Lane, Alicia, David, Daniel, Elizabeth, Wrenn and Hollins, whom he adored.

The family would like to express their extreme gratitude to Freda Talley and Audrey McDowell and their associates for their devoted care.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, 9545 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.