William H. Bucklew

| May 22, 2013

BucklewWARSAW – William Howard Bucklew, 94, of Warsaw, died Monday, May 20, 2013 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.
He was born June 9, 1918 in Columbus to the late Frank “Spotty” and Anna Bucklew.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie V. Bucklew, whom he married Aug. 30, 1941.  He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Ann, a brother, Francis, and three sisters, Helen, Edna, and Dottie.  He moved to the Warsaw area when he was 3 months old and was a 1936 graduate of Warsaw High School.  Bill then attended Ohio University, Athens, graduating in 1941 with a B.S. degree in Education.  While there, he competed in varsity baseball.

In July 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and spent three and half years in the Army Signal Corps.,  spending eight months as an instructor in the Army Radio School in Kansas City.

He landed on Omaha Beach, June 7, 1944 (D-Day+1) making a second landing at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon, Philippine Islands on Jan. 9, 1945.  He was with the Sixth Army Headquarters, Signal Section, being discharged January, 1946.  During his overseas tour he was in England, France, New Guinea, Philippines, and Japan.

He was a principal/coach at Fresno School three times for a total of nine years from 1941 – 1953.  From 1953 – 1958 he was Executive Head of Union Local Schools.   In 1958 he went to the Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB) as Principal of the high school.  He also taught science and coached wrestling until 1963 when he became Principal of the entire school, grades K-12.  In 1967 his biography was included in “Ohio Lives”.  He retired from OSSB in 1974.

In 1984, he was in charge of publishing a 208 page history of print, ads, and pictures titled:  “Historical Collections II:  Warsaw and the Walhonding Valley.”  He was General Chairperson of Warsaw’s Sesquicentennial Committee, and a Co-Grand Marshall of the parade.

He edited the Warsaw High School Alumni book and has served on the Alumni Board.  In 2002 Bill co-published a photo album of graduating classes from 1925 – 1965.

He was a substitute teacher and also taught Driver’s Education at River View High School.  He served on the Coshocton County Public Library Board, was a member of the Warsaw Business Assn., was inducted into the Coshocton County Sports Hall of Fame, a member of the Warsaw Lions Club since 1981, editing the “Warsaw Lions News” for a number of years, a Mason in the Wakatomika Masonic Lodge, a member of the Coshocton County Retired Teachers Assn., the Coshocton Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a life-time member of the American Legion Walhonding Valley Post #634 (their only paid-up life member.)

He traveled to Canada, Mexico, and 47 states (missing AK, HI, & RI).  He enjoyed mowing and gardening

He is survived by two daughters, Ann (Rusty) Harrell and Marilyn Bucklew of Warsaw, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 24, 2013 from 4-8 p.m. at the FISCHER FUNERAL HOME in Warsaw.  Masonic memorial services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a Lions memorial service at 7:45 p.m.   Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Valley View Cemetery in Warsaw.  Graveside military services will be conducted by the Coshocton County Joint Veteran Council.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Animal Treatment Assn. (Animal Shelter), 21755 TR 164 Coshocton, OH 43812; Warsaw Alumni Scholarship Fund c/o Jim Lawrence, PO Box 166 Warsaw, OH  43844, OH 43812; or the Coshocton County Joint Veterans Council, 318 Main St. Coshocton, OH  43812.

Category: Obituaries

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