Robert D. Budd

Robert D. Budd, age 68, of Upper Lake Road, died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Bob was born at Yokota AFB in Japan on April 3, 1955. He enlisted in the US Air Force at age 17, and proudly served his country until 1974 as a combat veteran and dog handler in Vietnam. He returned home as a 2nd degree black belt in Shotokan Karate with a working knowledge of Aikido and several other styles.  Sensei Budd had a dojo in Seneca Falls where he taught a children’s class and a traditional adult class for several years, before moving to Lodi.  Later he coached 4-Towns youth baseball at South Seneca, including coaching his own sons, Nicholas and Nathan.

Bob worked as a network administrator for HEP Sales in Waterloo for more than 20 years after the closure of the Seneca Army Depot where he was employed as a security guard.  Previously, Bob worked for a number of years at GTE Sylvania in Seneca Falls.  Bob also ran his own side business building and repairing computers.

Bob was an avid reader, loved football, hunting, fishing, photography, bird-watching, and life at his rural home in Lodi.  He enjoyed working outdoors, tending the large garden, and doing yard work.   Bob was proud of his self-taught skill of harvesting and brewing maple syrup each spring from his own maple trees.  He and his family worked together to collect sap and cook it down the old-fashioned way, outside on an open wood fire.

Bob spent this entire deer season hunting with his son Nate, right up until his last day, doing what he loved most, hunting with his boys.  Bob had been a life member of the South Seneca Sportsmen’s Club and the Geneva Winnek American Legion Post #396.

He is survived by his wife, Christine Rogers Budd of Lodi; his son, Nathan Troy (Nikki Parish) Budd; his grandchildren, Mereah Jones and Aiden Budd; his siblings, Dot (Chet) Haines, Deb (Chris) North, Bill (Denise) Budd, and his father, Raymond (Brenda) Budd.  Bob was preceded in death by his son, Nicholas Kyle Budd in 2018 and his mother, Keiko “Kay” Budd 2022.

A private committal ceremony will be held at NYS Veterans Cemetery in Romulus. His family will host a celebration of life open to the public at the South Seneca Sportsman’s Club, 6894 Yarnell Road in Ovid from 2:00 to 4:00pm on Monday, December 18, 2023, where friends are invited to share memories of Bob with the family.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to one of the outstanding local first responders, such as the Lodi Volunteer Fire Department or the South Seneca Ambulance Corp.  The family would also like to thank the efforts of the Seneca County Sheriff's Office, the many other professional responders, and the staff at the Covert Funeral Home.