Dr. John Curtis Buckingham Sr.

Our wonderful, loving, thoughtful, mesmerizing and loquacious father passed

away quietly while he slept. John was crazy in love with his wife of 71 years,

Audrey Henderson Buckingham who preceded him in death in 2019. He will

forever and always remain the devoted father to John Curtis Buckingham, Jr.

(Marinela), Mark Henderson Buckingham (Marie), Julia Buckingham

Edelmann (John) and Marcia Ellsworth Buckingham (David Hockabout).

His grandchildren will always remember him with a huge smile as

"Poppy”. They are; Alexandra Buckingham Slocum (Doug), John C.

Buckingham III, Grant Haris Buckingham, John Moretti Buckingham (Victoria

Lafferty), Philip Henderson Buckingham, Michael Ellsworth Buckingham,

Caroline Edelmann Fisher (Baer), Alexander Curtis Edelmann, Madeline

Buckingham Edelmann (Samuel Vodicka), Drake Buckingham Mueller and

“greatly” blessed Great Grandfather to Quinn Goebel Fisher.

John Sr. was so iconic that creating a simple obituary alluded us as we all

searched for the right words and a concise compilation of his massive

accomplishments and achievements. He was a student and graduate of the

University of Chicago- with an interruption in his studies to become a United

States Army Air Corps Pilot (USAF) during WWII-pursuing his patriotic duty

as well as his lifelong desire to fly. His inspiration and love of flying began

when as a small child he was placed on the wing of Charles Lindbergh’s plane

during a visit to Denver, Colorado by the young pilot. He was a member of the

Delta Kappa Epsilon National Fraternity while at the UC.

Young John (17 years of age) was stationed at Tinian Island Air Base and later

at Clark Field Air Base in the Philippine Islands during his enlistment

overseas during the war. Our Dad held all instrument and flight ratings,

eventually commanding a B-29 in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He was

a lifelong private pilot who belonged to the Flying Physicians Organization

and also to the Daedalians- Advocates for air and space power and honor to

those who flew and fly in defense of our nation.

Upon returning to complete his studies he then graduated from Northwestern

University School of Medicine with honors. Dr. John C. Buckingham practiced

in the OB/GYN field for over 25 years at Evanston Hospital (now North Shore

Hospital) and delivered over 2,000 babies during his long career. He also

attended to patients at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois and donated

his time to The Cradle Adoption Agency in Evanston and provided pro-bono

medical care to students at Northwestern University.

In 1976, Dad rejoined the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and

Hospital Commander. “Doc” Buckingham as the base servicemen and

servicewomen called him, retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel.

He has been the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions throughout his

civilian and military careers. Most recently, Dr. Buckingham was inducted

into the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Half Century

Club for esteemed alumni of that prestigious institution.

We already miss him terribly- his goofy songs, his play on words that would

allow us to erupt in laughter every single time- his prodigious vocabulary that

had us scrambling for a dictionary, his adoration of our mother that broke his

heart upon her passing, and his love of wearing

Black Watch and Pendleton

plaids for every single holiday. And, last but most certainly not least was his

devotion to all of his patients that culminated in his delivering twin boys that

were named John and Curtis after him. We will not forget also his dedication

to his country and to his eternal patriotism. Dad, we salute you with so much

love!

Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona with full

military tribute and honors on Monday March 29th with a Celebration of Life

“Surrounded by love” attended by all of his immediate family over Memorial

Day weekend.

Donations can be made in his name to The American Cancer Society.