Roy Eshleman Bucher

Roy Eshleman Bucher, age 92, passed away February 9, 2011. Roy was a resident of Ventura for over 30 years. His wife, Claire Bressler Bucher of Brooklyn, New York, survives him. Roy and Claire were married for 65 years.

Roy was born June 24, 1918 in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. He is the son of J Milton Bucher and Anna Mary Eshleman. He is a direct descendent of Hans Martin Bucher and Elizabeth Bomberger as well as Ezra and Adeline Eshleman. Both families were original settlers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the early 1700’s from Bern, Switzerland. The original Bucher Bomberger homestead was purchased from William Penn. Other ancestors include Joseph Bucher and John Bucher both of whom fought in the Revolutionary War.

Roy graduated from Quarryville High School in 1936. He played varsity baseball and basketball. He later graduated from Penn State University in 1940 with a BS Degree in Chemical Engineering. He was a proud member of the Penn State Blue Band.

His career included assignments with several aerospace companies including Piasecki Helicopter, Kaiser Fleetwings, and Rockwell where he retired in 1981. Roy was VP of the Rocketdyne Management Club and received an Achievement Award for his work on the Apollo Space Program culminating in man’s first landing on the moon.

Previously, Roy and Claire resided in Granada Hills, CA for 20 years and 17 years in Trenton, NJ. Roy’s hobbies included volleyball, bowling, bridge, and playing golf at the Saticoy Country Club. He was the life of any party and always had a joke to tell you whenever you saw him. Retirement took Roy and Claire to Egypt, Norway, China, Israel, an African Safari, and several European Countries.

His surviving children include Jeff Bucher of Arroyo Grande, CA, Rick Bucher of Golden, CO, and Michele B. Carbone of Santa Barbara, CA. Grandchildren include Kristin Carbone and Kate Carbone of Santa Barbara, CA and Renae Bucher of Arroyo Grande, CA. Kate is attending Brown University and Renae is attending the University of Oregon.

For service information contact Charles Carroll Funeral Home in Ventura, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Braille Institute/Santa Paula Senior Center in Santa Paula, CA.

Roy will be missed by all who knew him.