GE "Buck" Buckley

Buck was born in Morral, Ohio on July 8, 1935 to William and Rachel (Jordan) Buckley. He was the youngest of twelve children. After graduating from high school, Buck attended Greenville College in Greenville, IL where he studied Pastoral Counseling and Social Studies. Following his love for learning, he went on to earn a graduate degree in Pastoral Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, and a second graduate degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, NY. He completed a postgraduate program in Pastoral Counseling from the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in New York City, NY.

As an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church, Buck pastored churches in Robinson, IL and New Castle, IN before being sworn in as an officer in the United States Navy. He proudly served as a Navy Chaplain with his first duty station being assigned as the Squadron Chaplain to Destroyer Division 192 in Long Beach, CA. Over the course of his career as a Naval Officer, he served hospital assignments at St. Alban’s Naval Hospital in Queens, NY; National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD; and Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. For a full year, he left his family behind to serve an overseas unaccompanied assignment with the US Marines 9th Division in Okinawa, Japan. He served sea duty tours on the USS Seattle AOE 3 and the USS America CV 66. His final duty station before retirement was at the US Naval Station, Annapolis, MD. Some of his achievements throughout his career in the Navy included the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), and the Sea Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star.

After retiring from the Navy in 1988, Buck served for 13 years as the Staff Pastoral Counselor at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, Spring Arbor, MI where he was also an Adjunct Professor teaching Greek at Spring Arbor College. He then went on to serve five years as Staff Pastoral Counselor at Chelsea Free Methodist Church, Chelsea, MI.

Buck’s career accolades and achievements reflect a man committed to service to his Savior and to anyone God put in his path. To his family and in his work, each day he modeled empathy, kindness, fierce loyalty and the gift of creative giving. He loved to give to others, whether it was a ride, a meal, a place to stay, money, a batch of chocolate chip cookies or, most importantly, the gift of his earnest prayers.

Throughout his life, Buck used his musical gifts to minister to others. He had the most beautiful tenor voice and could play any instrument he put his hands on. Playing the piano was his favorite. As a high school student, he was paid to sing special performances in churches and that is where he was introduced to Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior. Over the years, he ministered as a soloist and in quartets and choirs.

To know Buck was to know a smart, strong, stubborn, occasionally sassy and always sincere man. He was a proud man who was deeply devoted to his Savior, family, friends and country. In 1958 he married his loving and faithful wife of nearly 66 years, Roberta Anne (Timm) Buckley. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved daughter Marti Jo Thorpe and all 11 of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his son Morgan (Linda Kaye Piercy); daughter Shelley (Dwight) Ashley; and Marti Jo’s husband, whom he still considered his son, Jim (Beth) Thorpe. His grandchildren were the greatest joy of his life: James Thorpe, Ellie (Jake) Perry, Dewey (Ali Means) Ashley, Annie (Adam) Barber, Allison (Joe) Morton and Courtney (Wayne) Simons. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other dear family members.

Buck’s life verse was Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

On Friday, September 13 a private military burial will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI followed by a memorial celebration of life for family and friends at 1:30 PM at Watervliet Free Methodist Church in Watervliet, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

( https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ ).