January 17, 1935 – March 22, 2023
Walton Bayard “Bud” Webster, 88, of Etna, Calif. passed away in Medford, Ore. on March 22, 2023 at Providence Medford Medical Center due to a hemorrhage to his brain while he slept. Bud was enduring Parkinson’s Disease in the last years of his life. He was born in Wilmar, Calif. on January 17, 1935 to William Alden Webster and Doris Bayard Webster. He grew up in Sierra Madre, a small town next to Pasadena.
Bud Webster wooed his wife Charlotte, his high school sweetheart, at Culter Academy in Los Angeles, with ice cream Drumsticks and his Model A. She was a cheerleader for his football team. They wed on June 21, 1958 and were married 52 years, until her passing from ALS in 2011.
Bud was most well known as a junior high school teacher and coach at Etna Union High School District, where he retired in 1993. He taught and coached at the junior high and high school levels and was the driver training instructor for several generations of Scott Valley kids – a program he launched with the first student driver car. In 2019, Bud was inducted into the Scott Valley Athletic Hall of Fame for meritorious service.
In the 1970s, Bud began officiating sports games, which he continued to do until he suffered a stroke in 2009. He officiated football, basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball.
At the junior high school, he coached flag football, basketball, volleyball and track. Several of his teams won the championships in the Mountain Valley League. He coached varsity football for Butch Bigham, while Mr. Bigham served in Vietnam.
The boys in his physical education class learned to play a game he created called “Wizball.”
Additionally, he taught many local youth how to swim, using the pools at the Ashcraft house, JH Ranch and Sarah June Lloyd’s home.
Bud was known as the “River King,” guiding whitewater rafting for Kidder Creek Camp, Adventure Whitewater and JH Ranch. He guided for 30 years.
He was also the camp director of Kidder Creek Orchard Camp for one summer, and served on the camp board in its formative years.
Bud was born with severe asthma, which made it difficult for him to participate in sports during his younger years. In the seventh grade, however, he started to compete in sports by playing with his church softball team. In sports he discovered one of his lifetime passions.
One of the highlights of his life was playing the baritone and trumpet on two different New Year’s days in the seven mile Rose Bowl Parade with Pasadena City College Marching Band.
Bud received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from San Jose State University in 1958. He competed for San Jose State on the Men’s Water Polo Team.
His first teaching job was at DeAnza Junior High in Ontario, Calif.
Bud and his wife Charlotte moved his family of three to Etna in 1964, where he taught fifth grade at Etna Elementary School for one year, before a job opened up at Etna’s junior and senior high school. He moved to Scott Valley Junior High when it was created.
Bud was known for his infectious smile and words of encouragement. He spent his lifetime building up those he encountered. He shared his love for his Lord Jesus Christ through practical faith. He was the president of Christian Endeavor Pasadena in 1953 and served as an elder at Scott Valley Berean Church in Etna.
He raised his family in faith for their Lord Jesus Christ and love for their community.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Webster; parents, Doris and William Alden Webster; brother-in-law, Bayard Allmond, Jr., M.D.; nephew, Randy Webster and great-nephew, Craig Webster.
He leaves behind his brother, William “Bill” Webster, Pharm.D. (Mary); sister, Nancy Allmond; children, Julie Webster; Daniel Webster, J.D.; Paul Webster (Heather); Jonathan Webster (Megan) and Johanna Buck (Morgan).
Additionally, he leaves his granddaughters, Marissa Keating (Eric Stipes); Hannah Webster; Katherine “Katie” Webster; Ellie Webster; Annalise Buck; Grace Buck; Baylee Webster; Xoee Webster and Rylee Webster; his great-granddaughter, Aubrey Stipes; as well as nephews, Richard “Rick” Webster; Brandon Webster; Bayard Allmond and Peck Allmond; great nephews, William “Willy” Webster; Reese Webster and Jett Webster; great-niece, Journey Webster; great-great-nephew, Christian Webster.
Bud also leaves behind his precious girlfriend for this last decade, Alberta Dowling. He spent each day he was able to with her, from morning to afternoon.
Bud Webster left one dream unfulfilled: a sports facility in Scott Valley available 24 hours a day, because “some guys just need to play basketball at 3 a.m. to work out their frustrations.”
On the cover page of his Bible, Bud wrote:
“Life is all about Jesus not about me,”
along with the Bible verse
“The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
A memorial service for Bud Webster is set at Scott Valley Berean Church on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 2 p.m. The community is welcome to join the family for the service and potluck afterwards. He will be buried in a private family service at Etna Cemetery next to his wife Charlotte.
Girdner Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kidder Creek Camp’s Campership Program to help children with financial needs afford a week at camp at PO Box 208, Greenview, CA 96037
https://kiddercreek.org/give/
or Scott Valley Scholarships and Educational Awards, P.O. Box 352, Etna, CA 96027 https://scottvalleyscholarships.org/
