Developer Howard `Bud' Olds Dies At 60

Howard ``Bud'' Olds, a prominent real-estate broker and developer in Lynnwood who was well-known for his tremendous determination and drive, died yesterday morning at his home.

Olds, 60, who had a history of heart problems, apparently died in his sleep.

``Bud was probably one of the best real-estate men in this country,'' said Dean Echelbarger, a prominent developer himself. ``He had a lot to do with the shaping of Lynnwood.''

Olds founded the real-estate brokerage firm Howard A. Olds Inc., which he sold to two sons in 1988. He also was president of Executive Funding Corp., a real-estate investment company.

He developed the Landmark Inn, a hotel in Lynnwood, and was instrumental in the development of much commercial property in the city, including sites in and around Alderwood Mall.

When the mall was being developed just over 10 years ago, he helped lead a successful effort to persuade surrounding property owners to help fund a $6 million local improvement district to build roads in and around the mall.

``He was a guy sincerely concerned about the community,'' said Mayor M.J. Hrdlicka ``He always put his money and his energy where his mouth was.''

Friends and colleagues remembered him yesterday as a man who was tremendously aggressive and successful in his work, drove a tough but honest bargain and was never at a loss for an opinion.

``He lived life to the fullest,'' said Snohomish County Executive Willis Tucker, who first met Olds when Tucker was a newspaper editor and reporter and later became his friend. ``He drove hard. He also played hard.''

``He had a tough exterior,'' said Echelbarger, ``But if a guy said he was dead broke, he'd give him a hundred dollars.''

Olds grew up in Ballard and moved with his family to Edmonds when he was a teen-ager, graduating from Edmonds High School.

He served in Korea in the Marines.

After a brief stint in California, he returned to Edmonds in the late 1950s, serving on the Edmonds City Council from 1964 to 1967. Before establishing Howard A. Olds Inc., he owned or co-owned several other real-estate brokerage firms, including Merit Investment Inc.

He moved his family to Lynnwood in 1977.

He was a member of numerous organizations including the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Everett Golf and Country Club and several fraternal groups.

Olds is survived by his wife of 37 years, Lorna, of Lynnwood; four sons, Gordon of Fort Lewis; Stephen, Eric and Nels, all of Lynnwood; a brother, Gilbert of Lynnwood; a sister, Marilyn Pantley of Lynnwood; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Alderwood Manor Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., with interment at Floral Hills Cemetery after the service. There will be a reception at the Landmark Inn from 4 to 6 p.m.

The family suggests memorials to a favorite charity.