Richard Douglas Budd was born in Salt Lake City on April 22, 1932 to Douglas Farnes Budd and Charlotte Elizabeth Hillstead. He spent his early years in the Salt Lake area, attending Roosevelt Junior High and East High School. He joined the Air Force Reserve at 17 and served in the Korean conflict as a mechanic, receiving an honorable discharge in 1952.

He moved to Pasadena, California and attended college there, learning to be a “better” mechanic. This led to his love of cars and eventually to the restoration of a 1956 big back window Ford pickup. For years he loved showing his pickup in car shows all over Utah, Nevada and California. He received many trophies, but the “Master Builder Award” he received at the 2006 Auto Rama show was his favorite—“presented to the owner of an outstanding entry built with little or no professional help.” He was a longstanding member of the Red Rock Roadrunners car club in Kanab, Utah.

In 1959, Richard attended Weber State University and then transferred to the University of Utah where he received his BA degree in Art Education. After student teaching at West High School in Salt Lake, he returned to the U of U for further education in the field of Counseling. He served as a rehabilitation counselor for several years throughout Southeastern Utah and then returned to school once again, receiving his EdD in Educational Psychology from Brigham Young University in 1977. After completing this program, he worked with the severely handicapped for ten years at the American Fork Training School.

On June 6, 1960 he married the love of his life, Mariel Paskett (from Oakley, ID), in the Salt Lake City Temple. They raised their children mostly in Utah County, retiring to Kanab in 1994. They spent their life together enjoying many shared hobbies: assembling model cars; making knives and jewelry; rockhounding; and shooting pistols, rifles, and shotguns as members of the Cowboy Action Shooting Society. Richard and Mariel would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this upcoming June.

Richard was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a financial clerk while living in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and as a member of the bishopric in a branch for the handicapped. Over the years, he also helped in several Scout troops and served as a home teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Mariel, two sons and two daughters—Richard Budd Jr. (Tonya), Lauri Johnson (Ryan Nielsen), Spencer Budd (Cassy) and Chandi Hall (Morgan)—as well as 25 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his first wife and their two daughters (Beverly Jeanette and Memorie Jolene), and one grandson.

Richard will be best remembered for his love of all living creatures, music (especially the harmonica), and making silly faces.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, April 21, 2020 in the Kanab Utah Cemetery, with military honors by American Legion Post 69.   Services were arranged with Mosdell Mortuary. Download a copy of the live stream at https://mck3.com/mosdell-video-downloads/

Richard was brought into the cemetery in the back of his favorite red truck after spending a last night in his house.  The procession from home to cemetery included his family, the Red Rock Roadrunners, and many other friends.  Thank you so much for honoring him and still staying safe.