Warren Allen Buckler

Warren Allen Buckler, age 98, of Washington Township, Ohio, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Bethany Village in Centerville, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rutherford J. and Marian (O’Brien) Buckler, his brother, Earl H. Buckler, and his infant daughter, Marcia Anne Buckler, who passed away a day after her birth in 1962.

Warren was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 1, 1924. He was born in a hospital, which was not typical of the time. His thick, dark curly hair was well below his ears. The nurses thought he was such a nice-looking baby that they carried him around the hospital to show the other nurses. When Warren was nine years old, his family moved from Detroit to Berkley, Michigan. He enjoyed playing hockey at the local ice rink, played high school football and graduated from Berkley High School in 1943.

During World War II, Warren served on active duty from 1943 to 1946 in the Air Transport Command, United States Army Air Forces. He was stationed at New Castle Army Air Base, Delaware, and Fort Dix Army Air Base, New Jersey. He flew throughout the eastern United States in the C-47 Skytrain transporting cargo and troops. In 2016, Warren flew to Washington, D.C., with other veterans through Honor Flight Dayton and visited the World War II Memorial and the United States Air Force Memorial.

After the service, Warren used the GI Bill to attend the Walsh Institute of Accountancy in Detroit, which is now Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. In 1953, he began employment as an accountant for General Motors at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, and then in 1960, transferred to the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. In 1972, he returned to the GM Technical Center to work at Staff Accounting Services where he became a supervisory accountant. In 1980, he retired at age 55 and realized his goal of early retirement after working for General Motors for 27 years. As a young family man, he worked Friday nights and Saturdays at various shoe stores. He memorized how the shoes were stored in the back of the store so he could sell them more quickly because he worked on commission.

Warren met his future wife, Jennie Lee Formell, in 1947, and they were married later that year. They had four children, Dottie, Warren Jr., Brian and Marcia. In the early years, the family attended the annual Buckler family reunion, which was held at the cottage of Warren’s Aunt Marion (Buckler) and Uncle Les Thomson at Millers Lake, in Deerfield Township, Lapeer County, Michigan. The reunion was for the descendants of Warren’s great-grandparents, Henry and Susannah (Baumann) Buckler, who had lived in Breslau, Ontario, Canada. After Susannah’s death, Henry Buckler and his sons, Aaron, John, Noah, and Henry Buckler, began moving to the Brown City, Michigan area, just east of Millers Lake, while Henry’s daughter, Mary Ann (Buckler) Witmer, remained in Breslau. Warren’s Aunt Marion compiled an extensive history of the Buckler family covering many generations, which she completed and sent to Warren’s family in October 1966.

Family vacations were camping in a tent during the first two weeks in August at Ludington State Park in northern Michigan. Later, the family spent time in the summer on vacation, or on holiday, in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, at the boathouse of Warren’s granduncle, Francis (Frank) O’Connor, which was located on the bank of the Scugog River near Sturgeon Lake. As a boy and as a young man, Warren fished with his grandfather, John (Jack) O’Brien, in his grandfather’s boat on the Scugog River, which was near where his grandparents, Jack and Martha (Gordon) O’Brien, his great-grandmother, Bridget (O’Connell) O’Brien O’Connor, and Uncle Frank lived on Russell Street East in Lindsay. Warren passed on his love of the outdoors and taught his sons to fish. He also passed on his telling of jokes, especially to his grandsons when they were young.

After retirement, Warren and Jennie Lee traveled throughout most of the 50 states, Mexico and Canada before moving in 1990 to Bella Vista, Arkansas, with its many lakes and golf courses. They enjoyed their life living at the foot of the Ozarks. They stayed busy golfing, bowling, fishing, making new friends, and being involved in their church. They were always glad to share their little bit of paradise when family came to visit. Many trips were made to Branson, Missouri, during these visits. In 2005, they moved to Washington Township, Ohio. He enjoyed exploring the area and playing golf, chess, and cards, as well as fishing. At the age of 88, Warren made his first and only trip to Europe with his son, Warren, spending two weeks visiting Paris and Berlin. Warren became a member of The American Legion, Post 165, in Miamisburg, Ohio. He and his son, Warren, enjoyed playing Euchre there with the guys. In his thirties, Warren took up oil painting for a few years. In his seventies, he picked up the brush again. He felt his paintings were his legacy to his family, and they covered the walls of his home and those of his family. Most of all, Warren enjoyed being with his family.

Warren is survived by his beloved wife of 75 years, Jennie Lee (Formell) Buckler; his children, Dottie (Ron, deceased) Mantela, Warren (Ana) Buckler, Jr. and Brian (Marye Ellen) Buckler; grandchildren, Marcie (Schuyler) Rogers, Jill (Peter) Hagan, Laura (Mark) Butler, Warren (Nancy) Buckler III, Jennifer Buckler, Christina (Thomas) Clarke, Melony (Travis) LaCoss, Justin (Jennifer) Buckler and Derek Buckler; great-grandchildren, Rebekah and Sky Rogers, Peter, Mary, Nora, Timothy, Ellen and Daniel Hagan, Kent, Sally, Alice and Henry Butler, Rose Buckler, Olivia Clarke, Emerson Buckler and Belle Buckler; his brothers-in-law, Conrad David Formell and John (Beverly) Formell; and his many nieces and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends for Warren will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home, 508 E. Linden Avenue, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 AM. Burial with military honors will follow at 1:00 PM at the Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made in Warren’s name to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, 1661 Nicholas Road, Dayton, Ohio 45417 (hsdayton.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Buckler family may be shared at www.gebhartschmidtparramore.com.