Charles Dee “Bud” Vincent

Charles Dee “Bud” Vincent

Bud Vincent passed peacefully on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital surrounded by family.

Bud was proud to say he was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born Charles Dee Cole on March 11, 1937, the son of John and Frances “Fran” Smith Cole.  As an adolescent Bud and his older brother, James “Jim” Cole were adopted by Fran’s second husband, Jack Vincent, and took the last name Vincent.

Upon the separation of John and Fran Cole in 1939, Bud and Jim lived in East Lawrence across from Oak HiIl Cemetery on the farm of his grandparents James “Jay” Smith and Grace CoxSmith along with Fran who worked in downtown Lawrence as a waitress at the Eldridge Hotel.  Bud and Jim were especially close to their mom’s siblings: Alice Eliza Smith, Marianna Grace Smith, and James Burdette Smith.  In 1945, Fran along with Bud, James, Jay, and Grace moved to 1126 Kentucky with Alice after their grandparents, Jay and Grace, sold the farm on Craig Court near Oak Hill Cemetery.

In 1946, Fran married Jack Vincent and soon thereafter Jim and Bud moved into the Jenny Wren apartments until they moved in the 1950’s to West Hills Parkway near KU’s campus. Bud attended Lawrence Public schools where in high school he enjoyed choir, football, gymnastics, and track.   After graduating from Lawrence High School in 1955, Bud attended KU for one year before working for Bechtel Corporation as a timekeeper in Corpus Christi, TX for a few years and eventually re-enrolling at Emporia State University in 1961.

At Emporia State, Bud met Alice Delores “Dee” Don Carlos whom he married in 1962 in a private ceremony at the Congregational Church with Jim and Betty Allen Vincent as witnesses.  Upon graduation, Bud and Dee moved to Prairie Village, KS where Bud was a State Farm adjuster, served in the Kansas National Guard and eventually started UMKC Night Law School.

Bud and Dee started a family with the birth of Scott Eric in 1965, Todd Patrick in 1969 and Jennie Dee in 1974.  After graduating from law school and passing the bar exam in 1969, Bud started a legal practice in the Brotherhood Building in downtown Kansas City, KS.  Eventually Bud and Dee moved to rural Miami County and Bud moved his legal practice to Paola, KS.  They later moved to a farm near 68 and 33 Highways in Franklin County.

Bud truly enjoyed being a “gentleman farmer” who in the late 1970’s to the early 2000’s practiced small town law in Paola at the Miami County Courthouse while raising over two hundred head of Simmental cattle on the 500 acres near the Miami/Franklin County line known as Wind Valley Farm.  Bud spent years riding Wind Valley on his horse Brownie to check the cattle, and could often be seen in overalls at the Miami or Franklin County sale barns on sale days providing legal advice from the tailgate of his truck to the farmers and ranchers of the area. Bud was truly a force to be reckoned with as he led Dee and the family through life, ranching, coaching baseball, county fairs, horse shows and many adventures to Colorado and Maine over the years.

Although the law office was the main source of income, Bud’s true love was being with his family and tending the cattle, horses and dogs on Wind Valley Farm.  Christmas time was especially memorable with huge family gatherings centered around Dee’s beef tenderloin and Denver biscuits, Christmas Poem invite and long family walks across the fields of Wind Valley Farm.

Bud and Dee continued Jack Vincent’s tradition of attending and supporting University of Kansas Jayhawk football and basketball teams throughout his life and tried to never miss a game.  He loved to tell stories of the Phog Allen family from his early days, getting to know Al Oerter, Bill Neider, Charlie Tidwell, and Wilt Chamberlain while he was at Lawrence High, his year at KU and of the rivalry games between the Jayhawks, KSU and MU.

Eventually, Bud and Dee sold Wind Valley and moved west of Baldwin City, KS near the family of Jennie and her husband Mason.  In these later years, they enjoyed attending all the activities of their eight grandchildren including sporting events, county fairs, music, and academic pursuits.  Bud was always loving, encouraging and supportive of his children and grandchildren in all their interests.

Bud is survived by his wife, Dee; three children (Scott E Vincent (Jenni), Todd P Vincent (Heather), and Jennie D Stewart (Mason)); eight grandchildren: (Kyle Vincent, Jessie Vincent, Emma Kempker, Max Vincent, Reilly Slavens, Zoe Vincent, Lucy Vincent and Charlie Vincent); and six (and counting) great grandchildren.

An Open House Celebration of Bud Vincent’s life will be at The Eldridge Hotel at 701 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS on Monday October 27th, 2025 from 1:30 to­ 4 PM.  Flowers can be sent to The Eldridge Hotel ℅ Bud Vincent.