The Rev. John Earl Buker (Lt. Comdr. U.S. Navy, retired), born July 16, 1931, in Benton, Maine, died Friday, March 12, 2010 in Pensacola, Fla.
He was the only son of Earland Leroy and Eleanor X. McKenney Buker.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 19 and served during the Korean War. Upon discharge he returned to his home state, where he became a graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, earning Bachelor of Science and Education, and Masters of Education degrees. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
He then taught civics and history and coached football in Maine public schools. He rejoined the Navy and was soon commissioned and served his country for 23 years, three of those in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His seagoing experience was extensive.
Upon retirement in 1976, he enrolled in Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio, also known as Methesco, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a Deacon by the West Virginia Annual United Methodist Conference and subsequently an Elder by the West Michigan UMC Annual Conference.
He was appointed to the Stephenson Memorial UMC in Parkersburg, W.Va., and United Church of Christ churches in Ohio. He served as pastor of the Michigan Big Rapids Charge (Third Avenue, Paris and Rodney churches); Burr Oak UMC, Disciple of Christ Church, Battle Creek and the Potterville UMC.
During those years, he and his wife organized and co-led hundreds of persons, including high school students on study and pilgrimage trips to Jordan, Greece, Israel and the West Bank. Together, they were co-deans for several years of a highly successful Michigan resident camping experience for older adults.
Between 1966 and 1996, he chauffered many family RV trips north and south along the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada and throughout mid-America. They learned to value the continuing unselfish friendship of Bonnie Tucker-Naessens, an elementary school teacher and former parishioner.
Upon retirement from the ministry, they moved to Lillian, where he joined the Perdido Bay Optimist Club, the Lillian Ham Radio Club and was a founding charter member of the Lillian AARP Chapter. He was a founding member of the Baldwin County Democrats. For several years, he volunteered as an instructor in Baldwin County for AARP Driver Safety classes.
He was a member of Clan McFarlane and Clan MacKenzie and wore his kilt and regalia to Highland festivals and Bobbie Bburns dinners in Michigan, the Province of New Brunswick, Mobile and the Florida Panhandle.
He taught the “Sea-Kers” adult church school class of the Gulf Shores UMC for several years. He and his wife loved to sing. They met at a 60s hootenanny and courted between hoots of folk songs and instrumentals on his prized hand-crafted Appalachian dulcimer and Martin tenor guitar. One of his fondest memories was singing under the direction of the renown choral music director, the late Fred Waring. His best singing was with his wife in the car.
He served more than 3,000 hours at the U.S. Naval Aviation Museum Information Desk with dearest of friends, Ed, Paul, Alice and Emma, all members of the renowned “A-Team.”
He was a resident of Lillian with his wife, the Rev. Elaine Marie Phillips Buker, until they moved to Azalea Trace, a retirement community located in Pensacola.
His last days were physically difficult, as last days often are. His family expresses thanks to the staff and employees of Willowbrook Court Nursing Center at Azalea Trace, to ambulance attendants and emergency room nurses, technicians and doctors of Baptist Hospital, and the nurses at PCU and the fourth floor.
Special thanks to the physicians who have recently attended him in their offices or at his bedside with earnest, compassionate and professional care: Dr. James G. Pace, Dr. RAndall P. Riche, PA; Dr. William H. Langhorne II, FACC; Daniel E. Ross, D.O.; Dr. David M. Daly; Dr. Jay. R. Erickson; Dr. Charles W. Yowell; Dr. Rammohan S. Roa, FCCP; and Dr. Fleisher. Thanks also is extended to the staff of Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence for the host hospitable preparation to welcome his arrival, which, unfortunately, did not happen.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Priscilla Willey Buker; and cousins, Sgt. Brian Buker, U.S. Army Green Beret, Thomas Martin and Leroy Littlefield.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Buker of Pensacola; two sons, Nathan (June Hankins-Buker) Buker of Chicago and Joshua Scott Buker of Foley; sister, Gail Guerin of Belgrade, Maine; aunt, Julia Martin of Oakland, Maine; cousins, Kathleen Martin and Judith Martin Shores of Oakland, Henry Martin Jr., Thomas Martin Jr., Stephen Martin and Scott Martin of East Benton, Maine, Paul (Pat) Dickey of Clinton, Maine, Diane (Robinson) Lantagne of China, Maine, Peggy Buker Honeywell, Roger Buker of Winslow, Maine, Victor Buker of Benton, Gerald Buker of Ocala, Fla., Alan Buker of South Carolina, Walter Witham of Fairfield, Bertha Witham Wilson of Westbrook; uncle and aunt, George and Rose McKenney of Chatsworth, Ga., cousin, Sandra McKenney Hunter of Chatsworth.
Interment of cremains with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 9 at Barrancas National Cemetery Columbarium Circle. A memorial celebration will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola, 9888 Pensacola Blvd. (Route 29) with the Rev. Bob Eddy and the Rev. Julie Kain officiating. Clergy attending are asked to wear their robes and stoles as appropriate for such an occassion within their own religious affiliation. A light lunch will be served. An informal gathering of church members, family and friends will be held in Room 103 of the new church campus facility of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church, Crossroads.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, 4000 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104; ACLU of Alabama, 207 Montgomery St., Montgomery, AL 36104; Interfaith Alliance, 1212 New York Ave. NW Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20005; Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 518 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002; Heritage Fund of Azalea Trace, 10100 Hillview Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514; and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola Building Fund, 9888 Pensacola Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32534.
Condolences may be sent to the Rev. Elaine M. Buker and family, 10100 Hillview Drive, Apartment 1213, Pensacola, FL 32514.
