NEA/DL Capt. William Grafton Bucklin

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

NEA/DL Capt. William Grafton Bucklin

BIRTH 02 NOV 1928 • Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island

DEATH 14 SEP 2021 • Penney Farms, Clay, Florida

 

https://www.jamestownpress.com/articles/william-grafton-bucklin/

 

William Grafton Bucklin flew into Providence, R.I. Nov. 2, 1928.  His last flight landed Sept. 14, 2021. Bill Bucklin passed away in the Penney Farms (Fla.) nursing home following a long battle with cancer.

 

His parents were Francis T. Bucklin and Hope G. Bucklin.

 

He was a graduate of West High School, Pawtucket R.I., and the University of Rhode Island. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a 1st Lt. communications officer, serving during the Korean War. He was a pilot for 31 years for Northeast and Delta Airlines.

 

After retirement, he volunteered as a bush pilot in Kenya for UKMAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) then in the Congo (formally Zaire) for the American Baptist Mission and US-MAF in Mali.

 

Bill moved to Penney Farms Retirement Community in January 2014. He volunteered at the bike shop and at PET, assembling three-wheel carts to ship to people with partial or limited leg mobility in third-world countries. Bill was an active member of the Central Baptist Church of Jamestown, where he served on various boards, and sang in the choir.

 

He was an avid enthusiast for alternative energy, incorporating these at his home in Jamestown and in Africa. Bill also was a member of the Penney Memorial Church in Florida.

 

Bill loved flying, sailing, swimming, the outdoors and vanilla ice cream. He loved God’s beauty, sunrises and sunsets. He always had a wonderful smile and piercing blue eyes.

 

Bill was a strong Christian who loved God, his family and his country. He was a native Rhode Islander and direct descendant of Roger Williams.

 

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Morna G. Bucklin; two brothers, Lyman A. Bucklin and Allan F. Bucklin; three children, Duana M. Hodges, Grafton W. Bucklin and Glenn T. Bucklin; and four grandchildren, Jessica H. Bucklin, Samantha M. Wolski, Garrett J. Bucklin and Caitlyn M. Gross Bucklin. He was blessed to have many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous extended family members.

 

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Jamestown Central Baptist Church or the Wounded Warriors Project.