Janis A. Buckingham

Janis A. Buckingham

July 16, 1927 -

January 11, 2025

Janis Buckingham was born in Chicago, Illinois to theatrical parents, Ruth Pryor, a principal dancer known as America's Swan Queen, at the Chicago Civic Opera and Russell Wildey, a radio personality and theatrical agent.

Janis spent her foundational education in Catholic schools graduating from Town School for Girls finishing school in Chicago's near Northside.

She received training in dance, piano, voice, and acting. She became a member of the uptown players of Chicago. By eighteen she was a professional performer and in 1946 while touring on USO camp shows she met and later married Lt. Kent Buckingham from Bogalusa, LA, a pilot in the US Air Force.

They began their married life in Hiro, Japan and throughout a thirty-year Air Force career they lived and visited many countries all over the world. During their station in Japan, they welcomed their daughter Kenia.

Their adventures as a family continued as they were assigned to bases in Morocco, Germany & Vietnam and traveled to Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and all throughout Europe.

They welcomed their second child, Kent Jr. and during their time in Wiesbaden Germany, Janis managed the Officer Wive's Club coral group who was invited to perform all over Germany.

In 1966 they were assigned to Sandia Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM where Janis became active in the community leading to her volunteering for the American Cancer Society from 1975-1991. She became President of the local unit and later Chairman of the Board for the New Mexico division, ultimately receiving the St. George medal, the highest volunteer award. She changed course in 1991 to focus on raising her granddaughter Jennifer.

She was an active member of the New Mexico Music Guild, Retired Officer Wives Club, and a Chairman of the Four Hills Neighborhood Book Club.

Janis is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Col. Kent Buckingham, her son and daughter-in-law Kent Jr. and Susan Buckingham, her father Russell Wildey, her mother Ruth Pryor Murphy, her half-sister Barbara Wigon, and half-brother Charles Wildey.

She is survived by daughter Kenia and her husband Peter Metzner, granddaughter Jennifer and her husband Graham Ruchti Buckingham, granddaughter Kellie Metzner, granddaughter Brooke and her husband Ryan Houser, and grandson Scott Metzner. As well as, great-grandchildren Peyton and Haley Haack, Bryn and Blaine Cheatham, Hazel Ruchti Buckingham, and three half-brothers Russell, Robert, and Rich Wildey.

She would like to be remembered for her resilience, sense of joy, and loving heart with the philosophy that life isn't always fair but with the right attitude it's livable.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the American Cancer Society or Paralyzed Veterans of America can be made in her honor.

A visitation will be held at the Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum, at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11am, followed by a Funeral Service and Interment. A reception will be held at FRENCH-University at 1pm.

To view the online guestbook for Janis, please visit www.FrenchFunerals.com.