Richard Buzard

Richard Buzard, 91, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at his home in Abilene. A private family burial service will be held Monday, July 21, at Elmwood Memorial Park followed by a 2:00 p.m. memorial celebration of his life at First Central Presbyterian Church with Dr. Clifford Stewart and Reverend Janice Six officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Richard was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 27, 1922, to Lenore and Virgil Buzard. The family moved to Ft. Worth and later to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1940. He attended the University of Tulsa for two years and then joined the U.S. Army where he was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from 1943-1946. After he returned home from the war, he attended Oklahoma A & M and graduated in 1949 with a degree in Architecture. Richard married Frances Ann Taylor on June 23, 1951, at First Christian Church in Ft. Worth. In 1958, after working for several architectural firms in Ft. Worth, he joined the firm of Boone and Pope Architects so he and Frances moved to Abilene. Richard opened his own architectural firm, Richard Buzard, AIA in 1960 in Abilene, TX. He took pride in his work and was known for his integrity. Some of the more memorable projects he designed for the Abilene area include: Sanctuary, First Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary, Brook Hollow Christian Church, Abilene Teacher’s Federal Credit Union (2 locations), Dyess Federal Credit Union, fire stations and other city buildings for the City of Abilene, various banks and savings and loan buildings, and numerous private residences. Throughout his life, Richard was active in Abilene’s community. He served as the president of the Abilene Chapter of American Institute of Architects, was an elder at First Central Presbyterian Church and a board member on the Abilene Philharmonic Association. Richard was President of the Southwest Rotary Club where he was a member for over 43 years and received the Lowell Queen Award of Excellence as Rotarian of the Year in 2000 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He worked on various committees but his favorite was the “Top 50-Plus” banquet held each year in May. Rotary was near and dear to his heart, and during the years he made many life long friends. Richard, known as Rick to family and friends, was a kind and loving husband and father and was very proud of his family. He enjoyed traveling, taking pictures (especially of cathedrals and buildings of architectural significance), listening to classical music and visiting the mountains of Colorado. He was a proud American and loved his country. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Lenore and Virgil Buzard and his brother, Clifford Buzard. Survivors include his wife of sixty-three years, Frances, son, Richard Edward Buzard, Jr. and his wife Debby of Lake Orion, MI, daughter Carol Ann Opitz and her husband Jeff of the Woodlands, TX, and daughter, Joan Huff and her husband Chris of Midland, TX., grandchildren, Justin Opitz and his wife Kassidy of Dallas, TX, Kimberly Jakus and her husband Ted of Dallas, TX, Katie Huff of Taipei, Taiwan and Elizabeth Huff of College Station, TX. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Sydney and Parker Opitz and Theo Jakus. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the Property Committee of First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange, Abilene, TX, 79601 or to the charity of your choice.