Birth date: Mar 2, 1926 Death date: Sep 1, 2015
BUCKLIN, JOHN HARTWELL “Buck” went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. He passed away in his sleep peacefully at home. He had been under the excellent care of the Suncoast Hospice Silver Team since June 16, 2014, an Read Obituary
A treasured memory I have of Uncle John is when I visited Uncle Sean and Aunt Mary at their Longboat Key house to invite the Florida Bucklins to Maggie's and my wedding, so this would have been about ten years ago. I walked into Uncle Sean and Aunt Mary's living room to find an array of welcoming Bucklins, dear relatives I hadn't seen in a while and who had assembled to greet me. Uncle John not surprisingly was the life of the party, and at one point the conversation turned to military history. Being a history buff and knowing Uncle John was into naval artillery, I mentioned knowing about the Confederate guns that pounded Fort Sumter to start the Civil War. "They were Parrott guns, Uncle John, two r's and two t's," I said in a cocky voice to get a rise out of him. Uncle John cackled in delight, and boomed out, "By God, he is a Bucklin!" I have never been more pleased over a compliment in my entire life. I know Uncle John was a Master Chief and not an officer, but at that moment I felt I had been piped aboard the USS Bucklin commanded by Captain John Bucklin, who had just announced to the entire crew that I was a worthwhile shipmate. He hadn't seen me in quite a long time and would have had every right to be reserved, but he announced on the spot that he would come to the wedding in Connecticut, which he did, and made me feel like the most special nephew ever. Getting "By God, he is a Bucklin!" would make for a rather long tattoo, though I have considered it, but Uncle John's approving comment that day meant the world to me, and will always be tattooed on my heart. I had not been the most dutiful of relatives, but Uncle John made it clear he was not judging. I am proud to share a name with him, proud to say that Willliam Hartwell Bucklin met with favor from John Hartwell Bucklin. Sad though I am at his passing, I will never feel I have lost him.
John had such a wonderful wit. I sometimes call people "chief" as a gag. My brother and I took John to visit Cross Creek to see the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park in 2010. I was closing his door, and said "there you go chief" and he looked me right in the eye and said a very sincere "thank you." I realized that he was really a chief (and a master chief at that). He was a tremendously funny and charming person, and we are really going to miss him!
Steve Bucklin (nephew)
The members of Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 send their deepest sympathies to the family of our late brother John Bucklin. He was a great man and Mason and will be sorely missed.
Buck will always be in our hearts. We have wonderful memories of the good times we all had together. Will miss you old friend
Mary and Bob Krapf
Sending my condolences to the Bucklin family. I had the pleasure of attending a youth group outing in the Bucklin home in the '70's where I first met Mr. Bucklin. John Bucklin retired from Fort De Soto Park where I knew him as a volunteer fort history guide after his retirement. He was always a delight to talk with. He will surely be missed, but we know that we will see him again.
I remember one day seeing Buck at Fort Desoto Park. It had been quite a few years since we last saw each other and I wasn't sure he would recognize me.
Not only did he recognize me but his exact words were "Boy, did you get fat!" Rest in Peace "Old Man".❤️
