Frances T. Shea Buckley, RADM SAN DIEGO -- Rear Admiral (RADM) Frances Shea Buckley, Nurse Corps, United States Navy, was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts February 26, 1929 to John Edward Shea and Katherine Teresa Warburton Shea. She passed away on July 8, 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, Connecticut in 1950. Later academic accomplishments included post-graduate work in Operating Room Management at the University of Chicago and a Master of Science Degree in Nursing Service Administration from DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, in 1960. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Phi Kappa Phi. In July 1951, during the Korean War, Frances Shea was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps and assigned to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia. She was released from active duty in July 1954 and remained active in the reserves while attending graduate school. She returned to active duty from 1960-1983. Her numerous assignments throughout her career included: Portsmouth, Virginia; St. Albans, New York; Rota, Spain; Chelsea, Massachusetts and recruiting duty in Richmond, Virginia. During the Vietnam War, then Commander Shea served as Operating Room supervisor on the USS Repose (AH-16) where thousands of casualties were cared for during the ship's mission off the coast of Vietnam's northern station. Prior to her selection to flag rank, she served as Director of Nursing at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland and Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA. In 1979, she was selected to be the Director of the Navy Nurse Corps with the rank of Rear Admiral and assigned to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) in Washington, D.C. She served concurrently as the Deputy Commander for Medical Department Personnel, Commanding Officer, Naval Health Science Education Training Command as well as the Director of the Navy Nurse Corps. She was the first Navy Nurse Corps Officer and second woman to be promoted to the two star flag officer rank. She retired from the Navy on October 1, 1983. RADM Shea Buckley is the recipient of the Legion of Merit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal with star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 4 stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal with device, RVN Service Medal, RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and RVN Civil Action Unit Citation. Upon retirement, she married Captain Emanuel Navarro Buckley, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy and they returned to San Diego. Captain Buckley predeceased her in July 2000. Her survivors include her brother, Donald Shea, (wife Dorothy) of South Carolina, nieces Catherine Shea, (husband Dr. Greg Petrie) of North Carolina, Cindy Desroches, (husband Wayne) of Massachusetts, Chrys Machado, (husband Carlos) of New Jersey and nephew John Shea, (wife Caryn) of Massachusetts. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on July 25th at 10 a.m. at Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church where she was a longtime parishioner. A reception will follow the service at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar golf course pavilion. RADM Buckley will be buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church, 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123, or to a charity of one's choice.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jul. 19, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Frances Buckley

16 Entries

BURMA DUNN

July 18, 2021

My husband is now with Fran &Her husband in Heaven. I lost him on January 3, 2021. W were in the acupuncture group at NMCSD.

Ginger Garcia

July 19, 2016

She was a great person and a wonderful mentor. She respected all ranks and will always have a special place in the hearts of the Corpsmen that worked with her. - HM2 (FMF) Garcia, G.

July 8, 2016

So very sorry for your loss. I know God will help you to endure because he cares for you ( 1Peter 5 : 7 ).

Andrew Buckley

November 23, 2015

Tom Burden

September 2, 2015

As a newly commissioned Medical Service Corps Ensign, I was assigned to work for then, Captain Shea, at Naval Hospital, San Diego. Turns out, we were from the same home town and she welcomed me with open arms. For almost two years she acted as a mentor as well as a boss, and I now look back to realize that I learned more about being an officer from this nurse, than any of the medical service corps officers I later reported to. She and I maintained a close friendship over the years, writing frequently and exchanging daily emails until she was no longer able to continue. She was many things - a compassionate nurse, a strong leader, and a great listener. She had a level of integrity and spunk rarely found. We are all worse off for her loss.

Samir Chala

July 25, 2015

We only knew Frances in her last year at Elmcroft. She was a strong feisty lady who was very protective of her fellow residents. Toward the end she enjoyed my back rubs and I will never forget her beautiful blue eyes when she turned to me and whispered, "I love you."

We will meet again in the Heavens

Lulu Beach

July 24, 2015

Frances was a lovely lady. She was so encouraging to all of us in acupuncture group. She will be greatly missed. But we will see her again. Life goes on after this.
Much love and prayers for all of her loved ones.

Albert Lutfey

July 22, 2015

To my dear friend of 50 years,

It was with a heavy heart when I learned of the passing of Rear Admiral Frances Shea Buckley. I met Fran in the summer of 1956, while she was fulfilling a reserve tour. We became close friends during the trip, and she met my wife and 2 children upon our return home to the Brooklyn port.

When Fran returned to active duty she was stationed in New York, and was able to stay with our family almost every weekend. She was "Aunt Fran" to my 5 children, and all our friends, and honored our family by agreeing to be the Godmother of our son, John.

My entire extended family knew Aunt Fran and loved her. She was compassionate, brave, loyal, and above all, a friend for life. She will always be remembered in my prayers. I know she is with her beloved Emanuel and with my dear wife. May she rest in peace.

She often said that her greatest role in life was being a Navy Nurse.

Burma & Roy Dunn

July 21, 2015

I,too, met RADM Buckley in the accupuncture group in HemOnc at NMCSD. She & I both had breast cancer and Lymphadema in the arm. She was a truly delightful person to know. If I had been in the Navy, I would have wanted to wolrk for her. Ou Sympathies to her family

Lauraine Lawrence

July 20, 2015

I met her at acupuncture group at Naval Medical Center San Diego a few years ago. She was so interesting to talk to. I loved listening to her talk about her experiences
She was full of charm an wit. It was a pleasure to know her

Theresa Latosh

July 20, 2015

Frances Buckley made many a resident laugh when she walked down the hall with her parrot. She always had a kind word and a smile to share. She will be missed by many but especially by her Navy Nurse Corps friends.

Martha Suarez

July 19, 2015

A remarkable woman. I served under her, and as luck would have it, had the honor of caring for her when she was a patient several years ago. Wishing her Fair Winds, and Following Seas, and a gentle passage as she transitions from this life into the next. In my navy it is never "good bye", but see you again someday.....

Marce Ziolkowski

July 19, 2015

Deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of Fran Buckley. She was one of the sweetest people I met as we were attending an acupuncture group together at the US Naval Hospital San Diego. Her clean and clear humor, that special smile and her continued interest in what you were doing and how you were coping was a bright spot in my week whenever I saw her. She will be sadly missed by all of us who knew her.