Dr. Gray C. Buck Jr.

Dr. Buck was born in Athens, Alabama, September 17, 1921, to Gray Carroll Buck and Gladys Pettus Buck, but lived in Birmingham his entire life except for his time in military service. He attended Phillips High School and received a BS Degree from Birmingham Southern College where he was elected ODK, was President of Skull and Bones, a pre-medical fraternity, and was Chairman of the Men’s Division of the Executive Council. He attended medical school at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, graduating from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Following his internship and residencies at the Medical College of Alabama in Birmingham, he began the practice of General Surgery in 1950. During the Korean War, he served in the U. S. Army as a Captain at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was Chief of Surgery. Returning to Birmingham in 1955, he continued his private practice.

Dr. Buck enjoyed the practice of medicine, which enabled him to fulfill his ambition: “ to help mankind” (as stated in his high school yearbook). He was a Fellow of American College of Surgeons, a Diplomat of American Board of Surgery, Assistant Professor of Surgery at UAB, Assistant Professor of Anatomy at UAB, President of Birmingham Surgical Society, President of Birmingham Academy of Medicine, President of Jefferson County Medical Society, President of St. Vincent’s Hospital Staff, member of the Founding Board of Brookwood Hospital, Surgical Consultant for Hillcrest Hospital, local surgeon for Southern and Seaboard Railways and served as Chief Surgeon for U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company for a number of years. After practicing medicine for 50 years, Dr. Buck retired from practice in December, 2000.

Dr. Buck was an active member of South Highland Presbyterian Church since 1946 and served as a deacon and elder. He was an Eagle Scout and served as a Councilman in the Boy Scouts of America. A lover of sports, Dr. Buck said one of his greatest experiences was serving as Team Physician for the Berry High School Football Team from1968-1971, where both of his sons were active participants in the sport. All who knew Dr. Buck knew that a game of golf with friends, sons, and grandsons was one of his greatest pleasures.

Dr. Buck is survived by his wife, Darthula Hendrick Buck and three children: Dr. Gray Carroll Buck,III, and his wife, Vicki; Thomas Winchester Hendrick Buck and his wife, Pam; Thula Buck Peterson and her husband, Mark; his brother, Dr. William Pettus Buck and his wife, Janie. His grandchildren and great grandchildren are: Shelley Buck Gardner and her husband, Nick (children- Libby and Gray); Amanda Buck Derrick and her husband, Paul (children- Hallie and Hannah Joe); Ashbey Buck Orman and her husband, Paul (daughter-Ella Gray); Thomas Winchester Hendrick Buck, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn; John Alderman Buck; Hardie Smith Buck and his wife, Rachel (son-Smith); Grayson Elizabeth Davis; and Anna Davis Southern and her husband, Andrew.

We are thankful for his life, his example of serving others, his dedication to his family and friends, his unwavering love, his wonderful and entertaining stories and how he exemplified a humble faith in Christ.

His memorial service will be at South Highland Presbyterian Church at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 24, 2018. We want to thank Oasis Hospice and all of the sitters at home, Fair Haven and St. Vincent’s Hospital who have so lovingly cared for our father.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Boy Scouts of America or Birmingham Southern College