Walter "Bud" Briggs

To join the livestream of the memorial service honoring the life of Walter "Bud" Briggs, please select the link below. The service will also be archived for later viewing. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY2OTc3ODQ0MDIyMTg2OSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== Walter “Bud” Briggs, age 96 years, a resident of rural Vienna, passed away Thursday morning, November 24, 2022, at 4:35 AM at his home. Bud, as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was born December 7, 1925 in Charleston, Illinois. He was the only child born to Walter Manning Briggs, Sr. and Rosalie (Shepherd) Briggs. On May 22, 1956, Bud was united in marriage to Paula Mueller in Evanston, Illinois. She preceded him in death on January 14, 2015. Bud is survived by: his daughters – Katherine “Katie” Briggs Hodges and her husband Parker of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Joan Marie “Jody” Briggs of Josephine, Alabama; 2 grandchildren – Greta Katherine Briggs Kyburz and Brennan Scott Briggs Kyburz; as well as other relatives, many friends, and dedicated and faithful caregivers. Bud served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war Bud attended Charleston Teacher’s College and Eastern University, where he set a school track record for the 50-yard dash. He finished his collegiate career at the University of Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Bud loved the land and enjoyed being a lifelong farmer. He advocated for farm policies, conservation, initiatives and innovations through various memberships and volunteer service throughout his life. Bud was very community and civic minded. He was extremely active in numerous community and church organizations and activities. Bud and Paula took great interest in area youth activities and were supporters of 4-H and Scout organizations. Bud was elected to the Vienna Grade School Board of Education in 1967 and served as the board president for several years. Bud also took tremendous interest in the Hospitality House of Vienna serving as a board member, then board president. He was extremely instrumental in the maintenance and renovation of the historic building as well as the day-to-day operation and management of the ministry outreach. Over the years Bud was honored with multiple awards and other recognition for his contributions to all these various groups. Bud was a faithful and studious Christian. He attended the Vienna First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, and also attended the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna crafting many creative projects for Bible School. Among many hobbies Bud enjoyed listening to music, sketching landscapes and loved to laugh, particularly enjoying ‘corny’ jokes. He was a voracious reader. Bud loved history, classical music, automobiles, antique guns, models of any kind and trains. He became an H-O scale railroad enthusiast handcrafting a model of the historic bridge spanning the Ohio River at Metropolis. While the study of World War ll, the Wild West and architecture piqued his interest, his passion was the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln holding special admiration and appreciation for Lincoln’s wit. A memorial service honoring and giving thanks for the life of Walter “Bud” Briggs will be conducted Saturday afternoon, December 10, 2022, at 2:30 PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Jay Franklin will officiate. Those attending the service are invited to gather at the funeral home at 2:15 PM Saturday afternoon, December 10, 2022. The family will informally greet relatives and friends immediately following the memorial service. The preferred form of remembrance is donations to any of the following; High Hopes 4 Autism, 12786 Illinois Street, Elberta, Alabama 36530; Autism Speaks, 1060 State Road, 2nd Floor, Princeton, New Jersey 08540; Whistlers and Whittlers Senior Citizens Center, P.O. Box 1372, Vienna, Illinois 62995; Bethany Baptist Church, 555 Bethany Church Road, Cypress, Illinois 62923; Vienna First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1349, Vienna, Illinois 62995; or to the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 315 South Street, Anna, Illinois 62906.

Walter "Bud" Briggs

December 7, 1925 - November 24, 2022