Willard “Kenneth” Buckner, 84, of 2155 Sprinkle Creek Rd., passed away September 10, 2014 at Madison Health and Rehabilitation. He was a lifelong resident of Madison County and the son of the late Tommy and Thelma Hamlin Buckner. Mr. Buckner was a US Army Veteran and was retired from Air Weather Service, a civil division of the US Air Force. He was a member of California Creek Baptist Church, where he was a former Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent, a member and past Master of Bald Creek Masonic Lodge of which he was a 32nd degree Mason and in retirement Mr. Buckner was one of the leading Polled Hereford producers in North Carolina and served on the NC Polled Hereford Board of Directors. In addition to his parents Mr. Buckner is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Christy Buckner; sisters, Frieda Stephens and Mary Buckner and a brother, Orval Buckner.
Kenneth is survived by his wife of 65 years, Johnnie Faye Hawkins Buckner; daughter, Leuretha Fluty (Dale) and their children Joel Fluty (Krystina) and Joseph Fluty; son, Allen Buckner (Tina) and their son David Buckner (Jamye); sister, Erma Laws; brothers, Delano and Leroy Buckner; great grandson, Kenneth Jackson Fluty and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held 3:00pm, Sunday, September 14, at California Creek Baptist Church. Reverends Josh McDevitt and Stanley Peek will officiate. The burial will follow at Buckner Cemetery with Mars Hill VFW Post 5483 and Bald Creek Masonic Lodge, AF/AM 397 conducting graveside rites. Bald Creek Masonic Lodge will open at 1:00pm, Sunday, prior to the service.
The family will receive friends from 1:30-3:00pm prior to the service.