William Buckley Sr.

Buckley Sr, William
William J. Buckley Sr. entered into eternal rest on October 6th, 2012 in his home in Fairfield after a brief illness. Born 1918 in Bridgeport, he attended Central High School, Booth & Bayliss Business School and the University of Vermont, with a Premedical course of study. While attending UVM, he was a member of the ROTC and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Annette Gallagher Buckley, a native of Fairfield, and his parents Dennis J. Buckley and Elizabeth Corbett Buckley of Bridgeport. Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps pilot training program, earned his Wings and was assigned to the 387th Bomb Group, 558th Squadron in France flying B-26 Marauders. He completed 37 missions over Germany. In addition to flying duties, he was the Assistant Training Officer supervising all flying training and ground school programs for the air crews. He remained in the Air Force Reserves and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He earned the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal with one Silver and one Bronze Cluster, the European Theater Medal with three Battle Stars, the Reserve Medal with an Hourglass, the American Defense Ribbon, Unit Citation Ribbon, and Victory Medal, plus several other awards. He was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the Air Force Association, the Western Chapter of the Connecticut Reserve Officers Association, Owen Fish Post 143 American Legion Fairfield, the B-26 Marauder Historical Society and the Pilot Class of 1944. Locally, he was a former member of the Algonquin Club, Bridgeport and Fairfield Lions Clubs, a Life Member and 1st Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Fairfield Council #2616. He was a volunteer at the Fairfield University Quick Center and the Mercy Learning Center Annual Golf Tournament. He belonged to the Fairfield Beach Club, the Gaelic American Club and The Brooklawn Country Club. He is survived by his six children, William Jr. and his wife Lorri, of Orlando, Florida; Dennis II and his wife Carmel, of Fairfield; Barbara B. Andrew of Charleston, South Carolina; Bryan Buckley of Trumbull; Catherine Dolan and her husband Kevin, of Carmel, Indiana; Maureen Del Bene and her husband Paul, of Fairfield; twenty- three grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Bill worked for four divisions of Cooper Industries selling electrical wholesale equipment. He retired with thirty-five years of service. He was an avid bowler and a golfer for many years and a great fan of the Yankee's, UCONN Women's Basketball and UVM Catamounts. He also took great pride and joy in caring for his lawn and gardens. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and enjoyed the many celebrations of births, graduations, and family gatherings. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:00am meeting directly at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will Full Military Honors will follow in OakLawn Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may greet Bill's family on Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 4pm to 8pm at the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to Swim Across the Sound, c/o St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com