Last Known Activity:
Major Henry C. â??Budâ?? Engelhardt III, age 77, a longtime Southwick, Massachusetts resident was received into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at home surrounded by his loving family. Bud had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer.
Bud was born in New Haven, CT in 1935 and raised in Hamden, CT, son of the late Henry C. Engelhardt Jr. and Josephine (Fowler) Engelhardt. As a boy Bud spent many summers in Southwick on the farm belonging to his grandparents Leslie â??Docâ?? Fowler and Jessie (Simons) Fowler, often bicycling the 54 miles himself. Like most summer residents he enjoyed swimming in the Congamond Lakes and Granville gorge. Budâ??s grandfather was a descendant of Samuel Fowler, one of the first residents of Southwick, who built his home in 1790 where the Southwick Country Club now stands. Bud graduated from Hamden High School in 1952. In 1954 Bud married his high school sweetheart Alice Burton, also of Hamden.
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Bud served two years in the Connecticut State Guard while attending Hamden High and entered the regular army as a Private in 1952. In 1953 he joined the 56th Bomb Disposal (EOD) Squad at Indiantown Gap, PA as an on-the-job trainee. Bud attended the EOD Basic Course at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1955, EOD and SWD at Indian Head in 1956 (honor student), the EOD Supervisors Course at Aberdeen in 1957 (honor student), and EOD refreshers at Indian Head in 1958 (honor student), 1961, 1963, and 1970. Other schools completed were: the Controlled Fragmentation Munitions Course at Picatinny Arsenal, the Ordnance Ammunition Officer course (honor graduate), the Artillery Officer Career Course (upper third), the Nuclear Weapons Employment Course, and the Command and General Staff College (with honors). During his service, Bud served as an enlisted man for nearly nine years before he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. He has been a member of or commanded 30 EOD units (including 4 EOD Control units), wrote the procedures for the control of nuclear weapons shipments in Second Army that were later published Army-wide as AR 55-203, was a back-up EOD advisor and ammunition supply adviser/manager in Vietnam, developed the ARVN ammunition control system which saved over 1.25 billion dollars, provided the MACV command input for FM 9-14, proposed the ARVN EOD Control System, developed the basic concept for the EOD group, developed the light/heavy element system for EOD units, wrote the MTOE and supply catalogs later used to organize and equip the expanded EOD units, and submitted many changes to EOD publications of which several thousand were implemented. He participated in the disposal of more than 1,000,000 bombs and numerous other items including conventional, chemical, incendiary, biological and nuclear munitions, and designed and implemented the â??pass/no passâ?? universal â??hot lineâ?? system for EOD units. He holds the National Defense Service Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (3), Vietnamese Honor Medal (1sr Class), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Meritorious Service Medal, and Bronze Star Medal. Bud also was awarded one of the first Master EOD Badges in 1969, and holds the Vietnamese EOD Badge and the Vietnamese Ordnance Badge.Â
Bud retired as a Major in 1973 and moved his family to his boyhood summer home in Southwick, Massachusetts. He served as the Executive Director of the Southwick Housing Authority for 35 years, helping many on low incomes to find affordable homes. As Director Bud was instrumental in the design, construction, and management of Depot Court, Ahrend Circle, the Berkshire County of Retarded Citizens residence and a home for the Center for Human Development. Bud acquired several single homes for low income families. Bud managed one of the most cost-effective housing offices in the state. He cared deeply for the tenants and served them with his whole heart.Â
Bud was famous for the homemade apple pies he shared with many. He had an annual taco and apple pie dinner for the residents of Depot Court. He volunteered as chef for the semi-annual Pioneer Valley Live Steamers railroad meets. When his daughters were on the Southwick High Student Council he cooked for their retreats. Every year he made the most delicious family Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.
In his â??free timeâ?? Bud served on the Woodland School Facilities Study Committee, the Building Committee, and the Roofing Committee. He worked on the town complex committee for the town hall, senior citizens center, fire and police stations. Bud served in many capacities in the Southwick United Methodist Church for many years. Bud was an active member of the American Legion, VFW, SPERDVAC, NRA, Pioneer Valley Live Steamers, and especially the NATEODA where he served as National Adjutant from 1999 â?? 2012 with great passion and devotion.
Bud received the Grange Man of the Year award, was honored by the Rotary, and has twice been recognized as local Citizen of the Year.
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Bud is survived by his wife of 58 years, Alice R. (Burton) Engelhardt, daughter Diana J. Smyth and her husband Randy of Westfield, MA, daughter Nancy M. Lehman and her husband Joseph of Simsbury, CT, son Henry C. Engelhardt IV and his wife Alicia of Westfield, MA. Bud also leaves a sister Charlotte Suraci of North Haven, CT, two brothers Edward A. Engelhardt of Cairo, NY and David Bartholomew of Bantam, CT, a sister Connie Hunt of Chicago, IL and four grandchildren. Bud is predeceased by a brother Paul Engelhardt and a sister Alice King of Portland, CT.
Bud will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.
Family & friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to celebrate Budâ??s life on Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the Westfield Evangelical Free Church, 568 Southwick Rd., Westfield, MA 01085. Burial with Military Honors in the Mass. Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, MA will be at a later date. There are no calling hours. Southwick-Forastiere Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the Westfield Evangelical Free Church, 568 Southwick Rd., Westfield, MAÂ 01085.
This remembrance/shadow box profile is maintain by Mike R. Vining, SGM, USA Retired, email: sgmmvining@gmail.com
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