Ed Budge Obituary

August 25, 1937 - January 22, 2017


Edwin "Ed" Stratford Budge III, 79, passed away peacefully in his sleep January 22, 2017 at his home near Jacksonville, Oregon. He recently put his life story in his own words to share with friends:

Born in Los Angeles, California, 1937 and grew up in Los Angeles - where I mowed Lon "the Wolfman" Chaney Jr's lawn and spent lots of time at the beach - and Salt Lake City (Mormon background). I graduated Van Nuys High School, 1956 and was something of a juvenile delinquent. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, served from 1956 - '59 and was stationed in Hawaii for one-and-a-half years where I learned how to kill people. I enjoyed the life of a ski bum in the Rocky Mountains for two years in the early '60s, skied all day, partied at night.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah, 1964 with a BA in history and philosophy, then earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1965 during the Free Speech Movement. I was hired into the Recruit program then became an administrative officer at the Library of Congress from 1965 - '67.

I met and married Ronnie Lee Braunstein, another Recruit at the Library of Congress, (I remember WW2, Ronnie does not) in 1966. In 1968 I graduated with an MA in history from the University of Maryland and completed postgraduate studies - during the People's Park riots - in library science and philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, 1968 - '70.

My son Edwin was born in 1970. The family moved to southern Oregon in 1971 where we owned a bookstore in Ashland, Ore. from 1972 - '74. I became director of the Josephine County Library from 1974 - '79; president of The Oregon Library Association, 1978- '79; and then became a real estate investor, 1973 - present after a mid-life career change. I taught college-level real estate courses at Southern Oregon University for five years in the 1990s.

As of mid-year 2015, I have been married to Ronnie 49 years. Our son, Edwin, 45, lives in Seattle and is an attorney-at-law at his firm, Budge and Heipt. He is married to Averil (I remember Jack Benny, Averil does not), also an attorney-at-law. They have two children, Ford, 14 and Asha, 12. Edwin and his family spend much of their free time in Provence, France. My grandchildren are fluent in French, I'm not. Ronnie retired after 20 years as Director of the Jackson County Library. I spend a lot of time at the gym (have been a "gym rat" for 30 years.) Ronnie is active in the local Master Gardener program and volunteer work. I am on the local public library district budget committee. We live (since 1979) on 37 wooded acres near Jacksonville, Ore. Ronnie gardens, I read philosophy books and take care of the chickens. We eat organic and watch public television. I'm a geezer and a curmudgeon, Ronnie is not. We and our cat are in good health from the neck down.

Ed is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ronnie; his son, Edwin and his family; his sister, Barbara Bertagnole; and his brother, Stuart Hills. His sister, Judy Shaffner preceded him in death in 2013. Ed and Ronnie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last summer with family in Gold Beach. Ed enjoyed watching the deer, wild turkeys, birds, and other critters on his property. He read widely, and was particularly interested in science and philosophy. He celebrated the thinking mind and valued study and reflection. While his passing was sudden, we are comforted that he suffered not and lived actively as he wished until the end.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jackson County Library for book purchases.