Nicknamed by a hired hand when he was just a little guy, ‘Bud’ worked the family farm in upstate New York. Before he was tall enough to reach the pedals, his father would put the truck in gear and have Bud steer it up and down the field while he threw hay out the back.

As a teen, Bud would grab a few of his mother’s homemade cookies on the way to the barn for early morning milking before biking to school. He played football for Cambridge High School. He laughed that if they weren’t behind by more than four touchdowns at halftime, they had a chance at winning because the farm kids would wear out the other team in the second half.

At 16, Bud talked a reluctant banker into loaning him money to buy a combiner, then combined crops for other farms and proudly paid off the loan that first season.

In 1954, at age 24, he married Eleanor Isadora Rojcewicz, started a family, and tried several careers. He learned construction in Florida, sold one set of encyclopedias and felt so bad after that first sale that he called the guy back and said, “Cancel that. You don’t need those." And left that sales job. He was a natural salesman, however, and drove thousands of miles for Beekin Feed and Seed Co. working with farmers and dealers.

In 1961, he and his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. He took over A.L. French Co., a small wholesaler, built up the company and made many long-time friends through customers, vendors and employees.

Bud was an adventurer at heart. Soon after their son, Michael, died in an accident at 16, and realizing life was short, he took up something he’d always wanted to do: fly a small bush plane. He and family and friends made many flying, fishing and hunting trips and often flew to the family cabin at Nancy Lake, Alaska. In early retirement, he and Eleanor were referred to as the ‘cute, old couple in the little yellow boat.”

Bud’s keen memory, the propensity to attract ‘characters,’ and his knack for telling funny stories made for a lifetime supply of great conversation.

For the last 20 years, Bud and Eleanor felt very at home on their small ranch in Bandera, Texas. People often marveled at how Bud devoted himself to caring for and loving his wife of 68 years, whom he referred to as his ‘Polish Queen.’ Eleanor died in 2022. A profound loss, but Bud enjoyed visits from family and friends and found much solace driving the old John Deere tractor right up until the last month of his life.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife, their son, Michael Gregory Center, his parents, both sisters, and many other beloved friends and relatives.

He is survived by his 3 daughters, Mary Cartwright (Gary), Stella Josephine and Ruthie Glynn (Daniel); grandsons, Michael R. Center, Wes Cartwright, Chris Cartwright, Peter Cartwright and Jarek Halat; granddaughters, Kelsey Riemenschneider, Anna Bailey, Caley Garcia and Rachel Glynn; 11 great-grandchildren; his cousin, Betty Reynolds; many nieces and nephews and long-time friends.

A graveside service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to [email protected].

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Guinn-Horger Funeral Home.