William Frank "Bud" Stolz -2007
The Burlington Record, Burlington, Colorado Thursday, March 8, 2007

Lifeline Kit Carson County resident William Frank "Bud" Stolz, 80, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 at Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital, Burlington. Bud was born June 12, 1926, in Stratton, the son of Bernice (Brown) and Frank H. Stolz. He was drafted by the U.S. Amy when he was a junior in high school and was honorably discharged in August 1946, when he returned to high school for his senior year, he graduated from Bethune High School in the spring of 1947.

On March 23, 1952, Bud married Gladys Ziegler at Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Bethune. They had three children: Darwin, Bridget and Sidney. Bud was employed by Kit Carson County running a bulldozer for several years and then worked for the U.S. Post Office for 31 years. All during this time he continued to farm the home place on nights and weekends, sharpening one-ways and discs, shocking feed and umpiring softball games. After retiring from the post office, he started Bud's Kirby where he repaired and sold Kirby vacuums and accessories, together with most other brands (Bud's Kirby was a repair shop for almost everything over the years, including a honey bee extractor).

Bud wheeled and dealed [sic] in refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers in his spare time, and there was rarely an auction he missed. Bud was a gregarious man who never met a stranger, and he enjoyed talking with anyone and everyone.  Even on his final day on earth, he hung his flag at the house and fed many of the wild cats on the east end of Burlington.

Those preceding Bud in death are his parents and one sister, Blanche Beckstrom. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife for 54 years, Gladys, of the home in Burlington; two sons, Darwin Stolz and wife Katherine and their children Bryan and Justin of Burlington; and Sid Stolz of Washington D.C. and Miami, Beach, Fla., one daughter,. - Bridget Patrick and husband Tim and their children, Christopher (and wife and children in California), Brandi and Mckenzie of Aurora. Also surviving are one brother, Henry Stolz of Lee's Summit, Mo., and one sister, Esther Schlichenmayer of Wray. Bud is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and very special friends.

Funeral services for Bud were Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bethune, with Pastor Roger Milheim officiating. Friends shared their respects on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Love Funeral Home in Burlington.