Henry H. “Bud” Minor, 95, of Vero Beach passed away at the VNA Hospice House on Sept. 30, 2016.
He is survived by his wife Caryl; his daughter Kerry; his son Hank; his two granddaughters, Kathryn G. Lindsay and Sarah B. Lindsay; and his great-grandson, Cameron Young.
Minor was born on May 12, 1921, in Batavia, N.Y., to Henry H. Minor, Sr. and Monica O’Hanley Minor. He was the only son of four children, along with his three sisters Jane (Ullmann), Ruth (Joslin) and Sally (Parker). He attended Mercersburg Academy in Pa., then Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla. where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business.
During his time at Rollins, Minor enlisted in the Army Air Corp to serve his country in WWII, eventually flying the famous P51 Mustang fighter plane. Prior to being deployed, he had surgery to repair a spinal injury and was given an honorable medical discharge.
It was upon his return to Rollins College that he met and married Kathryn (Kathy) Gage. He and Kathy had three children together: Kathryn (Kerry), Sarah (Sally) and Henry III (Hank). He was a devoted husband and father.
Minor was also a successful businessman, rescuing the family orthopedic shoe business, P.W. Minor & Son, from bankruptcy in the early 1950’s, and leading it to become a thriving, profitable, nationally respected enterprise. He served as CEO, then Chairman of the Board until the sale of the company in 2014, working alongside his son, Hank, for 30 years.
His interests and hobbies were many – and he excelled at all of them equally. As an avid golfer, he won two club championships at the Stafford CC in Stafford, N.Y. He also scored six holes in one on different courses – all after the age of 60. As a sailor, he won the Central New York regatta in five different classes of boats, and was named as an alternate for the United States in the prestigious Mallory Cup regatta competition with New Zealand. He enjoyed tennis, skiing, backgammon, bridge, and threw consistent ringers in the nightly horseshoe matches on the shoreline of the family cottage at Canandaigua Lake, N.Y.
He drove his beloved Rolls Royce with great pride, and enjoyed his cheap Dutch Masters cigars with equal enthusiasm. His favorite pillow was embroidered with the phrase: “If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, then I shall not go!”
His true gifts were his positive attitude, his eternal optimism, and his ability to laugh and draw others into his obvious joy of life. He was a consummate storyteller and a great conversationalist. His quick smile and infectious laugh always put people at ease. He will be remembered by all as a gregarious, kind and generous man.
After losing Kathy to a stroke in 2003, Minor then met, wooed and married Caryl McClean of Grand Harbor, Vero Beach. He and Caryl traveled, cruised, played golf and bridge together, and actively participated in the many social gatherings at Grand Harbor.
As Minor’s health and mobility declined, Caryl was his constant companion and helpmate. Even near the end, they laughed and enjoyed time together each evening on their terrace.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the VNA Hospice House Foundation in Vero Beach, Fla. in Bud’s name.
