William J. Buchholtz

Family-Placed Obituary

William J. Buchholtz Capt. USN (Ret) William J. Buchholtz, Capt., USN (Ret) and long-time Austin dentist went to be with his heavenly Father on Saturday, September 24th 2005. Born in Ames, Iowa, on April 19, 1939, to Walter and Ruth Buchholtz, he graduated from the University of Iowa Dental School in 1964 where he met and married Bonnie, the love of his life. He immediately entered the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and was selected for a coveted oral surgery internship at Great Lakes Hospital plus a comprehensive dentistry residency in family dentistry at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. He was subsequently selected for a post-doctoral program in Oral Biology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. While serving his country for 20 years, he and his family lived in Vietnam, Japan, Ponape, Scotland, Guam, and Texas. He achieved the distinguished rank of Captain (0-6) before retiring to Austin in 1984 where he opened Family Dental Care in Westlake and became an active member of the community as a Rotarian. He was passionate about barbershop quartet singing which he began more than 20 years ago and was an enthusiastic member of the SPEBSQSA barbershop society (Austin Chord Rangers). He shared his beautiful baritone voice in the Hyde Park Baptist Church Exaltation Choir and impacted many young lives while serving in the 10th grade Sunday School Department as an outreach leader. Bill read avidly, particularly on topics covering God, politics, military, and even made sure to inquire as to what makes Men from Mars and Women from Venus. Bill was genuine and pure of heart. He was an honorable man whose model life was devoted to his Lord, his adoring wife and best friend Bonnie, and his children, both his own and those who adopted him. In addition to multiple business ventures, his life was invested in people and in quietly serving those around him. This is the legacy he passes to those he touched. Everybody who knew Bucky, loved him. His non-judgmental, accepting spirit made anyone feel at ease. He was Dad to more than just his own children, welcoming every person into his home and heart. He loved his family and friends easily and sincerely, making it a daily priority to stay a part of their lives. This structured military man would drop anything, anytime, anywhere, to give, to serve, to love. Dr. Buchholtz is survived by his loving wife of 41 years Bonnie, and his children Ross and Patricia of Austin, Scott of Houston, and Laura of Austin. He is also survived by his mother Ruth Buchholtz of Ames, Iowa; brother Dr.Tom Buchholtz of Hilton Head, South Carolina, and sisters Margaret Grabau of Minneapolis & Kay Marshall of Colorado Springs. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Weed Corley-Fish on Tuesday September 27th. Funeral services will follow on Wednesday September 28th at 3:30 p.m. The funeral services will be held at Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway in Austin, Texas. Burial will be held on Friday, September 30th, at the Shiloh Cemetery in Wellsburg, Iowa. The family requests that instead of flowers, memorials be sent to the Hyde Park Music Ministry, Attn Kay Humphreys, 3901 Speedway, Austin, TX 78751; or the Austin Chord Rangers, Bill Buchholtz Scholarship fund, PO Box 181075, Austin, TX 78718-1075. As his eldest son says, "Dad was sort of magic." For many, Bill was a giant umbrella that covered and sheltered. His earthly example was a human portrait of our Heavenly Father. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you'll find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4 Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com.