Rayford C. Buckles

Published 12:01 am Friday, March 23, 2018

July 6, 1929 – March 14, 2018

MEADVILLE — Services for Rayford C. Buckles, 88, of Roxie, who died Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Meadville Convalescent Home in Meadville, with his daughter, Sue, by his side, will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Funeral Home Chapel in Meadville with the Rev. Matthew Buckles and the Rev. James Hunsucker officiating.    

A full military burial will follow at Elmo Baptist Church Cemetery in Roxie under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

A memorial service will be held at his previous residence in Peru, Ind., at a later date.

He went to meet Jesus and reunite with his bride, the love of his life, Mary Ann. Most would say that Mary Ann was greeting him with, “what took you so long Rayford?” — with Rayford responding, “there’s my bride!”

Mr. Buckles was born July 6, 1929, in Franklin County, the son of Cameron Buckles and Alice Lima Adams Buckles. He married Mary Ann Prather Buckles Nov. 23, 1960.

He was a retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He served his country in the Korean War and in Vietnam. He also worked at the Amtrol Foundry in Peru, Ind., and at Hollinger’s Store in Bude while he was in high school.

He attended school at Central Grammar, Meadville High School and Mississippi State University. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lodge 2067 of Peru, Ind. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a master sergeant. In 1970, with 20 years of service. He was an air policeman for 10 years and aircraft mechanic until he retired. He worked on B36s, B58s and B52s and finished up in quality control. He traveled all over the world when he was in the USAF, Hawaii, Texas, Philippines, Thailand, Columbus and Peru. He moved back to Franklin County where he has been since he retired.

He was very active in First Baptist Church in Peru where he taught Sunday school, BYF, took kids of ski trips, sleepovers and outings of all sorts. He headed a state BYF convention at the church, which included around 500 youth and sponsors. He was ordained as a deacon and was on various board and committees. He loved to fly remote control airplanes that he would build from kits. He and his best friend, Carl Moon, worked on them just about every day and if they weren’t building them, they were flying them. His grandsons would enjoy going and watching him.

Mr. Buckles was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Ann; one sister, Madeline Bickerstaff; three brothers, Billy, Kenneth and Bobby; and one granddaughter, Marilynn Buckles.

Survivors include four children, Holly Sue Enlow and husband, Travis, of Raymond, Rayford Alan Buckles of Roxie, Debra Ann Toth and husband, Ron, of Kokomo, Ind., and Mark Buckles and wife, Becca, of Fairbanks, Alaska; he was loved and highly devoted to his 14 grandchildren, Suzanne Sheppard and husband, Colson, Walter Ray Davis and wife, Leigh Ann, Rayford Daryl Buckles and wife, Amy, Kendall Harrison Buckles and wife, Grace, Brenden Colby Beach, Cody Michael Rayls and wife, Erin, Richard Dean Toth and wife, Whitney, Alexander Paul Toth and wife, Rena, Davis James Toth and wife, Alyssa, Harvey Camermon Buckles and Jacob Alan Buckles; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Alfred Buckles and wife, Lucy Prather Buckles, of Papillion, Neb.; one sister-in-law, Ellen Prather Buckles Harrigill and husband, Jack, of Roxie; one sister, Juanita Cothren and husband, Marcus, of Roxie; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family requests donations be made to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Online condolences may be sent to franklinfh.com.