JOHN D. BUCKINGHAM

BUCKINGHAM JOHN DANIEL BUCKINGAM (John, Bucky, J.D.) On October 17, 2012, loving husband, Father, Grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many "finished his race" and peacefully passed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, at the home of his son, David, and daughter-in-law, Mary, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Yeagley Buckingham and Ceceal Anne Buckley Buckingham, his beloved wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Jane Sowders Buckingham (Betty), and two siblings, Lewis Yeagley Buckingham, Jr., and Donald Gregory Buckingham. He is survived by five children, J. Daniel Buckingham, Jr. (Cary), David Todd (Mary), Thomas Andrew (Erin), Richard Douglas, and Susan Elizabeth (Anne DePrince); eleven grandchildren, John Daniel, III, Catherine Martin, Brianna Leigh, William Deitrick, Mary Caroline, Anne Elizabeth, David Todd, Jr., Matthew Hunter, Summer Leigh, Brooke Taylor, and Cameron Wade; and many beloved nephews, nieces and friends. Born July 6, 1933, in Washington, D.C., John graduated from St. Ann's Academy and Massanutten Military Academy in 1951. He graduated from George Washington University in 1955 where he was president of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and played football. He served in the elite Strategic Air Command (369th Bomb Squadron) of USAF during the Cold War as a jet pilot. John was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1961 and thereafter served in the US Air Force Reserves. John had three passions in his life, his faith, family and his work. He was a man of deep Christian faith and belief. He professed Jesus Christ as his most important priority. His continual byword was "keep the faith." As was his way, he always "fought the good fight". His abiding faith endured even after he was stricken with a devastating neurological disease. John and his wife Betty were married in 1956 and together they raised five children and became proud grandparents of 11. John and his wife shared an uncommonly strong bond, being married for 56 years and having known each other for close to 60 years. They were deeply devoted to each other. He served as president of a family owned tent and awning company founded by his Father. In 1979, he opened his own business where all his family members and his beloved and devoted assistant and our family "honorary Grandfather" Vic Watts worked along with him. He headed businesses in three separate industries: commercial window coverings, real estate development, and chemical manufacturing. In his later years, John was appointed as a Board Member at Massanutten Military Academy, a position he undertook with great enthusiasm and respect. John often spoke of how Massanutten served as a home away from home for him and did much to form his strong adherence to the values of honesty, hard work, fair play, and looking out for the other guy. He remained involved with the Washington City Rho Chapter (George Washington University) of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity throughout his adult life. He was also active in the Father's Club at Landon School, from where all of his four sons graduated. For those who had the opportunity to know John, it was hard not to be impacted by his usually strong work ethic and his strong and clear sense of what is right and wrong. He was always extremely modest about his accomplishments. While not working John was either playing golf with his wife or spending time with his children and grandchildren In addition to his philanthropic and civic activities, John was a member of Congressional Country Club, Annapolis Yacht Club, and the Kiawah Island Club. He worshipped the Lord at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, where his beloved wife was baptized, St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, where he served on the Vestry, and St. Francis Episcopal Church and, after his move to North Carolina, was associated with Holy Trinity Anglican Church and the television ministry of Hayes Barton Baptist Church. In his later years, John was afflicted with frontotemporal dementia, a terminal neurological disease. After the passing of his wife, Betty, he moved to Raleigh where he lived his final months with dignity and comfort in a family environment. The family extends its sincere gratitude to his caregivers, Faith Ndzulumbe and Boitumelo Madevu for their tender, professional, loyal, and devoted care of him for his final sixteen months, as well as Dr. Ned Sacktor of Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Dr. Stephen Friedman, Dr. Carrie Alspaugh, and the physicians, nurses and staff at Hospice of Wake County (Kezia Jhugdeo, Sandy Kahan, Barbara Murphy, Jessie Reinhardt and Kellum and many more). Our Father is no longer afflicted with this devastating neurological disease. He has a new body and a clear, sound mind. He is in Paradise where there is everlasting joy, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, no more disease, no more grief, no more fear, and love's purest joys restored. His children thank the Lord for the gift of John Daniel Buckingham. A celebration of his life will be held at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3001 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, D.C. at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2012. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Massanutten Military Academy, 614 South Main St., Woodstock, Virginia 22664, Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087 May the Lord bless John and keep him, may the Lord make His face shine upon John and be gracious unto him, may the Lord lift up His countenance upon John, and give him peace. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7