William J Buckley Jr

William J Buckley, 85, of New Boston Texas, passed peacefully on February 3rd 2026 in the comfort of his home. His services will be held graveside at Ringwood Cemetery on Saturday February 7th 2026 at 12 noon.

Born in 1940 to William Jennings Buckley and Frances Celestine Baumann, Bill enlisted in service to our great country at the first chance he got. He served with distinction as an E8 First Sergeant in the United States Army for 23 years. He was a proud member of the Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne Division and served in Vietnam. It was said that he "took pride in serving the needs of his troops," and his contributions continued long after his retirement from the US Army. He was a staunch supporter of veterans services including VFW, American Legion, and The Wounded Warrior Project.

Bill was an accomplished correctional officer, working in various correctional institutions. While in these demanding positions, he faced intense circumstances with that famous Buckley stubborn will and determination, earning him honors for his handling of inmate relations, including a particularly disturbing riot situation. Of course, we would be remiss to neglect mentioning his time as assistant manager at an elite bowling arena.

Bill's unyielding persistence and rigorous standards made him an excellent fit for every position he held, but his loving care and sharp wit are what made him such a wonderful father and grandfather, friend and relative to so many. He will be remembered for his unwavering integrity, his unflinching dedication to his family and his country, his dignity and strength. But, even more than that, he'll be remembered as the patriarch that was the pillar of this family, and the man that left his mark in the hearts of all those who were blessed enough to meet him.

Bill was preceded in death by his daughter Patricia, parents William and Frances, and leaves behind a full family that will miss him deeply, including: his partner, Jennifer Richardson (and their Norah Quinn); his sister, Patricia Reichmuth; his children, William J Buckley Jr. (Jennifer), Carol Denise Buckley, Michael Dean Buckley (Tina), and Andrea Marie Buckley; grandchildren, Casey (Michael), Steven, Lisa, Jody, Brittany, Rachel, Billy (Savannah), and Carolynn; and numerous great grandchildren.