FRANK WILLETT "BUD" RIDER
Marriages
VIRGINIA WUBBEN - 1943
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page Obituary - March 4, 2010
Frank W. “Bud†Rider died
March 1, 2010 at Family Health
West in Fruita, Colorado at age
91.
Bud was a man of the West. He
was born October 7, 1918 on the
Rider family ranch on the Elk
River, North of Steamboat
Springs. Until his high school
years, he rode a horse to school at
the one-room Middle Elk Schoolhouse
in Clark, CO. Bud was a
cowboy and horseman as a youth
and for most of his life. As a
young boy he rode alone for days
at a time for cattle; at his ranch in
Crawford later, he fed 250 cows
all winter by himself with a team
of horses. Bud and his two Starduster
mares were “present at the
creation†of the American Quarter
Horse Association, and he
raced quarter horses for years.
In 1943, he married Virginia Wubben in Fort Benning, Georgia,
and their marriage lasted until her death in 2007. They leave three
sons, Kirk (Janine) Rider, Dave (Pam) Rider and Frank R. Rider, 13
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bud also leaves a sister,
Carol “Babe†Mitchell of Grand Junction.
Bud exemplified the “Greatest Generation.†He crewed bombers in
WWII and was a member of the “Sea Squatters,†membership in
which was only open to ditched US airmen picked up at sea by the
US Navy. He built up and paid for his ranch in Crawford, and then
his orchards on Rogers Mesa, with nothing but, in his words, “hard
work and good credit.†He was also a great raconteur and a Bridge
Life Master who traveled with his wife Virginia and their friends to
bridge tournaments through the West. He was a fine driver in all
conditions and liked fast cars.
Bud also managed to have fun just about every day. He had a sly
sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes, and was great company
whether working or playing. Men trusted and admired him, and
women and small children loved him; he was not so popular with
trout, deer and elk.
Life became tough for Bud after Virginia died and especially in the
last few months. Through it all, he had steady and warm support
from many loyal friends and wonderfully caring professional help.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at St.
Matthews Episcopal Church in Grand Junction at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday,
March 6. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to
Family Health West and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western
Colorado.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page Death Notice - March 4, 2010
Frank Willett Rider, 91,
Fruita, died March 1, 2010, at
Family Health West.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday
at St. Matthew’s Episcopal
Church.
Mr. Rider was a rancher.
Survivors include three sons,
Kurt of Grand Junction, Frank
and David of Portland, Ore.; one
sister, Carol “Babe†Mitchell of
Grand Junction; 13 grandchildren;
and fi ve great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to
Family Health West or Hospice
& Palliative Care of Western
Colorado.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6A - March 3, 2010
Frank W. “Bud†Rider died
March 1, 2010 at Family Health
West in Fruita, Colorado at age
91.
Bud was a man of the West. He
was born October 7, 1918 on the
Rider family ranch on the Elk
River, North of Steamboat
Springs. Until his high school
years, he rode a horse to school at
the one-room Middle Elk Schoolhouse
in Clark, CO. Bud was a
cowboy and horseman as a youth
and for most of his life. As a
young boy he rode alone for days
at a time for cattle; at his ranch in
Crawford. Later, he fed 250 cows
all winter by himself with a team
of horses. Bud and his two Starduster
mares were “present at the
creation†of the American Quarter
Horse Association, and he
raced quarter horses for years.
In 1943, he married Virginia Wubben in Fort Benning, Georgia,
and their marriage lasted until her death in 2007. They leave three
sons, Kirk (Janine) Rider, Dave (Pam) Rider and Frank R. Rider; 13
grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Bud also leaves a sister,
Carol “Babe†Mitchell of Grand Junction.
Bud exemplified the “Greatest Generationâ€. He crewed bombers in
WWII and was a member of the “Sea Squatters,†membership in
which was only open to ditched U.S. airmen picked up at sea by the
U.S. Navy. He built up and paid for his ranch in Crawford, and then
his orchards on Rogers Mesa, with nothing but, in his words, “hard
work and good creditâ€. He was also a great raconteur and a Bridge
Life Master who traveled with his wife, Virginia and their friends to
bridge tournaments through the West. He was a fine driver in all
conditions and liked fast cars.
Bud also managed to have fun just about every day. He had a sly
sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes, and was great company
whether working or playing. Men trusted and admired him, and
women and small children loved him; he was not so popular with
trout, deer and elk.
Life became tough for Bud after Virginia died and especially in the
last few months. Through it all, he had steady and warm support
from many loyal friends and wonderfully caring professional help.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at St.
Matthews Episcopal Church in Grand Junction at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday,
March 6. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to
Family Health West and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western
Colorado.
Steamboat Today - March 7, 2010
Frank W. “Bud” Rider died March 1 at Family Health West in Fruita at age 91.
Bud was a man of the West. He was born Oct. 7, 1918, on the Rider family ranch on the Elk River, north of Steamboat Springs. Until his high school years, he rode a horse to school at the one-room Middle Elk Schoolhouse in Clark. Bud was a cowboy and horseman as a youth and for most of his life. As a young boy, he rode alone for days at a time for cattle. Later, at his ranch in Crawford, he fed 250 cows all winter by himself with a team of horses. Bud and his two Starduster mares were “present at the creation” of the American Quarter Horse Association, and he raced quarter horses for years.
In 1943, he married Virginia Wubben in Fort Benning, Ga., and their marriage lasted until her death in 2007. They leave three sons, Kirk (Janine) Rider, Dave (Pam) Rider and Frank R. Rider, 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bud also leaves a sister, Carol “Babe” Mitchell, of Grand Junction.
Bud exemplified the “Greatest Generation.” He crewed bombers in WWII and was a member of the “Sea Squatters,” membership in which was open only to ditched U.S. airmen picked up at sea by the U.S. Navy. He built up and paid for his ranch in Crawford and his orchards on Rogers Mesa with nothing but, in his words, “hard work and good credit.” He was also a great raconteur and a Bridge Life Master who traveled with his wife, Virginia, and their friends to bridge tournaments throughout the West. He was a fine driver in all conditions and liked fast cars. Bud also managed to have fun just about every day. He had a sly sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes, and he was great company whether working or playing. Men trusted and admired him, and women and small children loved him; he was not so popular with trout, deer and elk.
Life became tough for Bud after Virginia died and especially in the last few months. Through it all, he had steady and warm support from many loyal friends and wonderfully caring professional help. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service was held at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Grand Junction on March 6. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Family Health West and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado.
