William T. Buckner

William Terrell Buckner (Ted), 1931-2022, passed away on October 8, 2022 at Westminster Village North where he had lived since 2015. He left behind his three daughters and one son-in-law, Terri Buckner (Chapel Hill NC), Cindy and David Wolfe (Irving TX), and Sandra Dugan (Indianapolis IN). He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Elna Sue; his brother, Gerald (Jerry); and his parents, Dallas (Bones) and Nellie Fay.

Ted grew up during the Great Depression under the love and devotion of his parents but with very few luxuries. The luxuries he came to expect as an adult were weekly bowling nights, annual fishing trips to Canada with the men and boys from his church, and frequent trips to Skyline Chili for a bowl of Chili 5-Way.

Ted joined the Navy at age 19 and served as a submariner radio specialist during the Korean War. He married Elna Sue shortly after enlisting and became a father for the first time while in Korea. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he attended Southwest Missouri State for one semester before embarking on a 40-year career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber.

Ted loved to read and watch TV westerns and college basketball. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed laughing. One of his most defining characteristics was his patience. Although he did not enjoy shopping, he was always willing to sit in the car and read while Sue shopped or conducted her genealogical research. His daughters remember only a handful of times when he truly lost his temper or his patience. He was a quiet man, a loving husband, and the best of fathers.

There will be a small informal service at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Indianapolis for immediate family members only. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Grant Avenue Baptist Church, 1033 N. Grant Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802, the church Ted grew up in.