William (Bill) Buckley died peacefully at home Tuesday, September 7, 2021 after a 3-year illness with blood cancer. He was 76 years old.
Bill was born in October 1944 in Wilmington, DE to Blanche K. and John Buckley. He graduated from Salesianum School in 1962 and then attended University of Delaware before enlisting in the US. Navy in 1967. He served in the Navy for 4 years on the USS Shangri-La. After leaving the Navy, Bill moved to Maine and graduated from University of Southern Maine in 1976 with a BS in Industrial Technology. He started his 30-year career in Process/Manufacturing Engineering with Data General in Maine and continued it in Delaware with several companies including Speakman and Chrysler.
Bill moved back to Delaware in 1986 to care for his aging father and was happy to meet his future wife Barbara through mutual friends. They quickly found they shared many common interests including tennis, seafood, and the arts. They were married in 1987 and Bill became a loving step-father to Barbara’s daughter, Carolyn.
After meeting Barbara, Bill became an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, completing Disciple Bible Study, volunteering at the rummage sale and Emmanual Dining Room, and serving on several committees. He coached cross country skiing for Special Olympics for over 10 years. After retirement, Bill worked in Public Safety at Winterthur for 5 years and continued to love visiting there for rest of his life. He also enjoyed taking classes at UD Osher Lifelong Learning where he renewed his interest in painting. Barbara and Bill enjoyed travel, including their many trips to the San Francisco area to visit Carolyn as well as vacations to Bethany Beach, Poconos, Maine and Europe.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Barbara (McHugh) Buckley; his daughter Carolyn (Bucher) Estebez and her husband Brian, and his granddaughters, Cecilia and Violet; sisters-in-law Carol Lamborn (Chip) and Joanne Capano and their families. He is also survived by his close Buckley cousins Joyce Tavani (Gus), Jack (Gemma) and Gene (Lynn).
The family wishes to thank Christiana Care Hematology for Bill’s treatment over the past three years and to Delaware Hospice for their care in his last days.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions in Bill’s memory to the Aldersgate UMC Steeple Fund or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Donations may be mailed to LLS – Eastern PA – Delaware, P.O. Box 22467, New York, NY 10087-2467 or online at LLS.org.
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