Curtis Wesley "Buck" Newcum

He was born August 26, 1937 to Curtis and Geneva Newcum in Webb City, Oklahoma. After several moves, they settled in Eunice, NM where Buck graduated from high school. He attended ENMU for two years and Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Buck married Debbie McAllister in 1976. He brought two children to the marriage-Debbie Gail and David. He and his wife Debbie had two children, Casey and Dustin.

Buck worked for Continental Airlines for 23 years. He held several positions including flying MAC flights to Vietnam in 1968. His flights took him to Okinawa, Philippines, Vietnam, Hawaii, Thailand, Wake Island, and Japan. He moved up the ladder, living in Hobbs, NM, San Antonio, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Lubbock, TX where he was a manager for Passenger Sales. From Continental he went to work for Keebler Co. selling cookies and crackers, also moving up to District Manager in Lubbock, TX. After moving to Midland and retiring, he worked for Midland ISD as a bus driver and monitor. He did this until he was 78 years old.

Buck’s joy in life was his family, always following the lives of his grown children. He was the one calling and texting his children always keeping everyone connected. He was a people person, always ready to visit with friends and neighbors. The neighbors could always count on Buck to know all the neighborhood happenings or to borrow a tool. His other passions were fishing and camping, which he passed on to his children and even the neighborhood boys, friends of his son Dustin. He loved to travel, visiting many states, Portugal, Mexico, Belize, US Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica. He is famously known for his “file folders" for each trip. Of course, he loved the many dogs and cats that wife Debbie brought into their home.

Buck is survived by his wife Debbie; daughter, Debbie Gail Newcum of Victoria, TX; daughter, Casey Sanchez and husband Louis of Midland; son Dustin Newcum and wife Antonina of Midland; granddaughters, Gillian Newcum and Ariana O’Dell and grandsons Kirian and Tristan O’Dell, brother-in-law Danny McAllister and wife Sheila of Harrah, Oklahoma and nieces.

A reception will be held at Ellis Funeral Home Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11:30 am with a graveside service to follow at 1:00 pm at Resthaven Memorial Park.

“To be able to speak truth in love and respect rather than judgment and condemnation.” – Bill Graham