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A joyous celebration of the Life and Times of
Ralph E. Buckley ("Buck")
Tuesday, August 10, 2010-2 PM
Little River United Church of Christ
8410
Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA 22003-3798
(703)
978-3060
Directly
opposite main entrance to Northern Virginia
Community College (Lake Drive)
SCHEDULE: 2 PM Memorial Service - Sanctuary
~3:15 PM Reception with Light Refreshments - Social
Hall
5:30 PM Open House - Buckley Residence
(3919
Keith Place; Annandale - via Walton Lane;
between Hummer
Road and Annandale Road.)
In
lieu of flowers, the family requests that
contributions be made in Buck's name to the
Endowment Fund, Little River United Church of Christ
("LRUCC").
FUTURE EVENTS (dates to be announced)...
Ashes scattering, Little River United Church of
Christ, Memorial Grove.
Interment of ashes, Greenhill Cemetery, Berryville,
VA.
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Ralph E. Buckley
Northern Virginia Educator
Ralph E.
Buckley, 95, a teacher, high
school principal and
administrator for nearly 40
years in the Northern Virginia
area, passed away on Saturday,
July 17 after a one-month stay
in Fairfax Hospital. He died
peacefully, with his family at
his bedside.
Mr. Buckley
was a resident of Annandale,
Virginia since 1954. He was born
in White Post, Virginia and
raised on a farm, the son of
Arthur Columbus Buckley and
Sarah Elizabeth Shiley. He
graduated from Boyce High School
in Clark County in 1933,
received his Bachelor's Degree
in 1938 from Virginia Tech, and
earned a master's degree in
education from George Washington
University in 1949 with
additional graduate study at the
University of Virginia.
"Buck," as
he was known to his friends,
commenced his Northern Virginia
teaching career in 1938 at
Fairfax High school. He was
drafted into the U.S. Army in
1941 and graduated from
Officer's Candidate School,
reaching the rank of Captain. He
served as an instructor during
World War II, both in the U.S.
and in the Philippines.
Following
his discharge from the U.S. Army
in 1946, he returned to Northern
Virginia as assistant principal
at Mount Vernon High School. In
1954 he was appointed first
principal of Annandale High
School, which he built from the
ground up-he conferred with
architects, stocked the Library,
hired the faculty, and played a
significant role in developing
the curriculum. Recently,
he wrote that his twelve years
at Annandale High School were
"precious - the real capstone of
my career."
In 1966
Buck was promoted to Assistant
Superintendent in Fairfax
County, and retired from the
school system in 1976 as an Area
Administrator. He occasionally
commented that he did not
realize the real rewards of
working with students until he
left Annandale High.
Following
his retirement, Buck worked in
the real estate field and as
weekend administrator at
Northern Virginia Community
College. Again, he most enjoyed
his interaction with the
students.
Mr. Buckley
remained active in the Annandale
Lions Club and NVADACA, an
organization which awards annual
scholarships to graduating
seniors in Northern Virginia
high schools; the Ralph E.
Buckley scholarship was endowed
in his name. He was active in
his church, Little River United
Church of Christ, and a frequent
volunteer in community
activities.
Survivors
include Buck's wife of 68 years,
Edith, and his son, Scott.
Ralph E.
Buckley
Northern
Virginia
Educator
Ralph
E.
Buckley,
95, a
longtime
educator
who
retired
in 1976
as an
area
administrator
for
Fairfax
County
Public
Schools
and then
spent 23
years as
a
weekend
administrator
at
Northern
Virginia
Community
College,
died
July 17
at Inova
Fairfax
Hospital.
He had
congestive
heart
failure.
He lived
in
Annandale.
Mr.
Buckley,
known
as
"Buck,"
began
teaching
in
1938
at
Fairfax
High
School.
In
1954,
he
became
the
first
principal
of
Annandale
High
School,
where
he
spent
nearly
three
years
organizing
the
curriculum
and
faculty.
He
was
promoted
to
assistant
superintendent
of
the
county's
schools
in
1966.
Ralph
Edward
Buckley
was
born
in
White
Post,
in
Clarke
County,
Va.
He
graduated
from
Virginia
Tech
in
1938
and
received
a
master's
degree
in
education
from
George
Washington
University
in
1949.
He
was
an
Army
anti-aircraft
instructor
during
World
War
II,
serving
in
the
United
States
and
the
Philippines.
He
attended
Little
River
United
Church
of
Christ
in
Annandale
and
was
a
member
of
the
Annandale
Lions
Club.
He
also
belonged
to
the
Northern
Virginia
Athletic
Directors,
Administrators
and
Coaches
Association,
which
awards
scholarships
to
high
school
seniors.
One
scholarship
was
endowed
in
his
name.
Published in The Washington
Post 7/31/2010
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Ralph "buck" buckley
Lion Buck was a member of the Annandale
Lions Club for over 55 years, having joined the Club in October
of 1954 on the invitation of Lion Doug Adams. Buck was new
(and first) Principal of Annandale High School at that time, and
over the years he extended invitations of membership to five
members of our Club.
He served in the Club leadership for many
years, and was President (King Lion) from July 1, 1979 through
June 30, 1980. The Club honored his service to Lionism by
endowing a Melvin Jones Fellowship--the highest award given by a
Lions Club--in his name at Lions Clubs International Foundation.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is named after the founder of Lions
Clubs.
We offer our condolences to his family for their loss but are also thankful for
having known and worked with Buck over these many years.
He was a most gracious and courteous neighbor, and embodied our
motto "We Serve."
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