Nicholas Budai, Jr.

Nicholas (Nick) Budai, Jr. of Fountain Hills passed away peacefully on Oct. 5, 2017. He was born April 5, 1927 in Salem, Ohio.

He is preceded in death by his parents Nicolae Budai, Sr. Julia (Ember) Budai; sister, Virginia Weese and wives, Joan and Helen.

Nick graduated from high school in 1944. He attended Ohio State University before enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945 and served 18 months aboard the USS Sterope delivering supplies to troops in the Western Pacific during World War II. In 1953 Nick began his career as a route salesman at Continental Coffee Co. selling coffee wholesale to restaurants and hospitals. He was district sales manager when he retired after 40 years.

Nick married Joan Whitten in 1954 and had one son, Nicholas Budai III. Joan passed away in 1970. Nick married Helen Krause in 1973. Helen passed away in 2015.

Nick is survived by his son, Nicholas Budai III, of Canton, Ohio; niece, Wendy Roberts of Aurora, Ohio and nephews, Bobby Harr of Scottsdale and Jerry Harr of Columbus, Ohio.

Nick and Helen moved to Arizona in 1993. He loved to walk around the Fountain and made many friends along the way. He loved to spend time with family and friends and to go out to eat. He was kind, patient, gracious, generous and loving and thanked everyone “for their service.” He will be greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors. Memorial donations can be made in Nicholas Budai’s name to Hospice of the Valley (Eckstein Center) in Scottsdale.