Henry Lee Busby

Henry Lee (Buz) Busby was born March 30, 1930 to Jess H. and Katherine Lakota (Robinson) Busby. He passed from this world on February 12, 2021.
He was the second of four children. Siblings included Virginia, Jess, and Irene.
Buz was an amazing generous man. He spent his early years in the Black Hills of South Dakota. At the age of 4 he was almost killed in a car accident where both his mother and grandmother were critically injured. Thankfully a family passing by stopped and gave lifesaving aid and were able to scoop up the kids. They lived on the ranch there until economic conditions forced the family to move to Rio Tinto, Nevada, the site of an open pit copper mine. When he was 11 years old, the family relocated to Boise, Idaho.
He graduated from Franklin High School in 1949, and subsequently worked in construction. He was a member of the Idaho Army National Guard and his unit was activated during the Korean War. Buz served in combat as a mobile radio operator. He continued his service in the National Guard after he returned to Boise.
He found the love his life, Charlene Jordan, in 1953. They were married in 1954. In 1958 they were blessed with a child, Christine Busby, and she was the light of their lives.
Buz worked as an eyeglasses technician for most of his life, and would often remark on the incredible advances in his field. He started as an apprentice optician with Bausch and Lomb Optical, under the GI Bill, and made it his life’s work. He was eventually promoted to a manager’s position and the family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon. Some years later, he transferred back to Boise. He later went to work for Eye Physicians of Idaho in Nampa, and eventually retired from there. Funny thing about Buz is that he never really stopped doing something. After retirement, he worked part time for a car rental agency shuttling cars between cities.
He traveled to many places in the world both when in the military in the early 1950's and later in life with his daughter to see the places that they always wanted to go.
He was an excellent bowler and he participated in numerous leagues throughout his lifetime. He also enjoyed golf for many years of his adult life. He loved watching sports of all kinds, especially if a family member was involved. He also enjoyed spending time with his many friends. He was always there when anyone needed his help, eager to lend a hand.
Another one of Buz’s interests included rock cutting and polishing as well as making various things with his hands. He delighted family members by making small replicas of some of their homes. He also made scale models of some WWII aircraft. He was extremely creative from the time he was a small child.
He loved cars and bought the car of his dreams, a 1930 Ford Model A, and enjoyed putting around in it. He loved driving it through town and saying hello to others with its “ah-ooga” horn. He liked to joke about the fact that both he and the car were the same age!
He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene, in 2014, and daughter, Christine Busby, in 2020, his brother Jess "Leonard" Busby, 1998, his dad Jesse H. Busby in 1980, and his mother Katherine Lakota (Robinson) Busby.
He is survived by sisters Virginia and Irene his cousin Gerald Stoor, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
We will miss you so very much, Buz, for your stories, love, and optimism.