Surrounded by his wife and family, Bud went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 4th, 2006.

Born July 11, 1924, in Centralia to Paul and Lorraine Tutmarc, Bud graduated Roosevelt High School in 1941 and was valedictorian of Northwest Bible Institute (now Northwest University) in 1945. He married his wife, Opal Ogden, that same year.

Bud worked as a foreman and draftsman for Pope Machine Company in Seattle and later founded two local companies, Tutmarc Realty in 1950 and Jeryl Ann Construction a few years later. All told, Bud spent 40 years in the real estate business and also built more than 100 individual homes throughout the Northwest.

But Bud’s true passion was always music. His Hawaiian steel guitar playing was world-renowned; he performed gospel concerts all over the world and took musical groups to Europe, Australia and Asia more than 30 times.

He was especially devoted to gospel music. He started a local weekly program devoted to the music during the early days of television, established Gospel Monday Musicales in Seattle’s Moore Theater, Masonic Temple and Civic Auditorium in the early 1950s, and hosted the Tutmarc Gospel Talent Time on KGDN radio, with winners receiving recording contracts.

Bud served as music director of several churches, including 26 years at Calvary Temple (now Calvary Christian Assembly), three years at Calvary Chapel and six at Lynnwood Assembly Church. He also directed the Northwest District Youth choirs for many years.

Bud recorded more than 25 albums, and eventually owned and operated his own studio, Tutmarc-Summit Studios, where he produced many albums for other artists. In addition to his recording and performing careers, Bud manufactured electric steel guitars. Both his guitars and his father’s pioneering electric guitar inventions are featured at the Experience Music Project museum.

An active force in his community, Bud served on the board of directors for Youth for Christ, Teen Challenge Seattle and Union Gospel Mission, and as president of the Hawthorne Hills Community Club. He was also the Goodwill Ambassador for the Aloha International Steel Guitar Club.

In his final years, Bud organized a hymnbook sing at Shoreline Community Church, which he led until the time of his death.

He leaves behind his wife Opal; daughters Pamela and Jeryl; sons Gregory, Douglas and Michael; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and countless friends throughout the world. He is much loved and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Northwest University, Bud Tutmarc Music Scholarship (P.O. Box 579, Kirkland, WA 98083-0579) or Union Gospel Mission (P.O. Box 202, Seattle, WA 98111).
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