William F. Buckley

William F. Buckley

William F. Buckley, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and Toledo community leader, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2025. Born in the Bronx, NY, on January 26, 1943, to parents Cornelius and Evelyn (Burke) Buckley, Bill spent his early years in New York City and then Metuchen, NJ, with his two older sisters, Maureen (Grickowski) and Irene (Gozora). He attended St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, NJ. His college journey was supplemented by a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship that led him to the University of Nebraska, where he earned his B.A. in 1964.

Following his undergraduate studies, Bill embarked on a distinguished naval career serving on several patrol ships in the Mediterranean, Far East, and Vietnam. He completed his naval service at The Ohio State University, where he served as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science and earned his MBA from the Fischer College of Business in 1971.

On July 12, 1974, Bill married his beloved wife, Jean, and together they built a loving family in the Toledo area, residing in Ottawa Hills since 1980. Bill's professional life was marked by a 20-year tenure in Administration & Risk Management at Owens Illinois, before joining Hylant Group as President and COO until his retirement in 2009.

A passionate community advocate, Bill enjoyed contributing his time and business acumen back to the Toledo community, including Toledo Day Nursery, Gesu Church, the Ottawa Hills Athletic Boosters, Mercy Health Partners Foundation, Toledo Country Club, Toledo Symphony, and the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Through his experiences, Bill made many great lifelong friends and enjoyed his post-retirement social life at the Toledo Club with the Clusterfers and Wednesday Nooners groups.

Bill is survived by his children, Michael (Jill) Buckley, James (Eileen) Buckley, and Katherine (Eric) Reing; and his cherished grandchildren, Will, Evie, Hannah, Madeline, Owen, Cade, Pierce, and Talia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in the Buckley family's name to the National Museum of the Great Lakes or the Toledo Symphony.

Visitation will be held at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Gesu Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd, Toledo, OH, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 11 a.m., with an hour of visitation prior, from 10-11 a.m. Immediately afterward, a Celebration Reception for all family and friends will be held at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo, OH; Bill would have it no other way. Interment will be held privately.

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