A Logan woman has fond memories of her longtime friendship with Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

The late senator was buried on Tuesday. He died recently at the age of 92. He was the longest-serving senator in U.S. history.

Mary Perry of Logan says Sen. Byrd was a longtime friend of her family and she remembers going out on the campaign trail with Byrd during his early run for House of Delegates.

“Senator Byrd was always considered a friend to our family. When he came to Logan County, in 1946, he came to see my father, Floyd Dingess, who was one of the county commissioners,” Perry said in an email. “My father took us to see William ‘Bill’ Dingess, (who) was Dad's brother and my uncle, (and) who was the Sheriff of Boone County, at that time. Also, he took us to Lincoln County where he had oodles of relatives and Democrat friends.”

Perry said her father knew Byrd was bound for greatness.

“My father once said of Senator Byrd, ‘Someday, Robert C. Byrd will fiddle his way into the White House,’” Perry said.

Byrd did make one run at a presidential nomination, a failed attempt in 1976.

“Logan County politicians always liked senator Byrd,” Perry remembered. “When he came to Logan on his campaign tours, they would have dinners for him at Chief Logan State Park and the old Guyan Barbeque, and there was always a large following of supporters. He had a personality that could win friends and influence people.”

Perry said her family always remained close with Sen. Byrd.

“My nephew, Stanley, would often go with Senator Byrd to these (campaign) functions and he would play the guitar, while Senator Byrd played his fiddle,” Perry said. “At his last campaign trip to Logan, I went to see him. It had been about 20 years since I had last seen him. We greeted each other with a hug (and) I was pleased that I got to see him after all those years. Someone commented about my greeting him with hug (and) I said, ‘I knew Robert C. Byrd when we were young and beautiful.’”