Howard R. "Bud" Hunter, Hutchinson, died April 28, 2008, at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson, at the age of 90.

Howard was born in Topeka, Kansas, on November 6, 1917, to Clarence and Myrtle Renstrom Hunter. Howard graduated from Topeka High School in 1935 and Washburn University in 1939 followed by graduate work at the University of Kansas. During World War II, he served in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army, and in the European Theatre as a Captain.

On June 21, 1941, Howard married Isla Davis of Castleton, Kansas, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After the end of the war they settled in Topeka where Howard took a job in 1946 with Capital Federal Savings and Loan. In 1956, he joined Topeka State Bank where he worked his way to Executive Vice President. While in Topeka, Isla and Bud were active members of the First Presbyterian Church and the Shawnee Country Club. Bud was active in the Cosmopolitan Club of Topeka and worked on the Board of the Topeka Red Cross.

In 1965, Howard joined the Hutchinson National Bank in Hutchinson, Kansas as Vice President and Head of the Commercial Loan Department. In 1972 he became President of Hutchinson National Bank, which was his position until 1981 when he was named Vice Chairman of Hutchinson National Bank and Trust. He retired in 1982. In Hutchinson, they were once again active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hutchinson, Prairie Dunes Country Club and the Hutchinson Town Club. Howard was active on the boards of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Wesley Towers and the United Way. He also was active with the Washburn University Endowment Association and the Kansas Bankers Association. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed his weekly games with his regular foursome.

Bud was very much a "people" person. Many will remember him with his smile and friendly greeting. He truly loved his work, his friends and family and the people he served. Through his jobs and his volunteer positions he was always helping others. He always seemed to know someone wherever he happened to be. His warm smile will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Isla, in 1997, and his parents. Surviving are his children, Cathy Wrenick (Rudy) of Topeka, and Richard Hunter (Kim) of Lenexa. He had four grandchildren, Amy Smith (Matt) of Brentwood, Tennessee, Scott Wrenick (Kerry) of Roeland Park, KS, Brandon Hunter (Mandi) of Prairie Village, KS and Brett Hunter (Stacie) of Overland Park, KS. There are also six great grandchildren, Alex, Zach, Holly and Ryan Smith, Will Hunter and Trestle Wrenick. He will always be remembered for his frequent saying, "It is a thing of beauty and a joy forever."

Services for Howard will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson. The family will greet visitors after the service. There will be a book to sign at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The casket will remain closed. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum, Topeka, with funeral service at 10:30 am. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Wesley Towers Foundation, 700 Monterey Place, Hutchinson, KS 67502, or Hospice Care of Kansas, 125 West 2nd Ave. Suite C, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Personal condolences may be left at www.elliottmortuary.com.