Richard Earnest Buckner

Richard Earnest Buckner was born on May 1, 1934, in Birmingham, Alabama, and passed away on June 5, 2024, in Gulf Shores, Alabama surrounded by his loving family. He was the oldest child and only son of the late Ernest and Barbara Buckner. He had three sisters, the late Mary Frances Buckner, Carol Ann Latine, and a surviving sister, Barbara Lynne Buckner of Birmingham. He was married to Gayle Engle for almost 67 years until her death in 2020.

Richard leaves behind six children: Rick Buckner (Paula) of Knoxville, Tennessee; Barbara Grier (Dennis) of Morristown, Tennessee; Tim Buckner (Karen) of Gulf Shores, Alabama; Cindy Mullikin (Lou) of Daphne, Alabama; Frances Reynolds (Keith) of Fairhope, Alabama; and Amy Depriest (Mike) also of Fairhope, Alabama. He also leaves behind seventeen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and cousins as well. His favorite memory was the laughter of his family whenever they would meet.

He was employed by Dupont Pharmaceuticals for over twenty-five years and spent many years enjoying retirement with his beloved wife, Gayle, and a large and happy family. He was respected by his colleagues and customers at Dupont and made friends everywhere he and his family lived, including stops in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Germantown, Birmingham, and at Gulf Shores. He will be missed by his friends at David L. Bodenhamer Recreation Center and at St. Andrews by the Sea a Community Church.

He lived through the Great Depression and World War II, and as a member of the Greatest Generation, he showed love and tenderness for all of his friends and family and served as a voice of reason and wisdom for all who sought his counsel.

The family will receive friends and family at Ridout’s Valley Chapel Funeral Home, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209, on Friday, June 7th, from 9-10am, with a graveside service immediately following at Forest Hill Cemetery, 431 60th Street North, Birmingham.