RUMFORD – Preston Delmont “Bucky” Buckingham, 76, of Loudine Avenue in Rumford, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, June 18, at the Rumford Hospital after an extended illness.

He was born on Sept. 3, 1932, in Westfield, the son of Perley and Alda (Redstone) Buckingham, the fourth of seven children.

He graduated from Mexico High School in 1948. He began working at the Rumford Paper Mill. He was a loyal employee as a Millwright for 42 years. He retired in 1991.

Shortly after he joined the Rumford Paper Mill, in January 1953, he was drafted and made his way to Fort Williams to serve in the Army where he joined Company 293 subordinate to the 23rd Quartermaster Corps. He served his country in the Korean War from Jan. 28, 1953 to Jan. 7, 1955. During his time of service, he received three medals, Korean Services Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal.

He attended Central Maine Vocational-Technical Institute in 1968, where he studied technical sketching to further his employment service as a Millwright.

After returning from the war in 1953, he married in February 1955 to Constance Roy, and together they created a beautiful family of five.

In 1979, he began a new chapter in his life and was remarried to “Lucy Baby” as he so fondly called her. Together, they enjoyed traveling, camping with the ‘5th Wheel’ and hosting annual family gatherings featuring Bucky’s baked beans.

He had a keen skill when playing pool and was always ready to defend his title if anyone had the spirit to challenge him. He would even be willing to play his challenger with one hand behind his back.

He enjoyed several hobbies including horseshoes, gardening, building bird houses and ice fishing. He was a member of various clubs: Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 24, and Le Parraseux Snowshoe Club. He was often referred to as the ‘jokester’, ready and able to put a smile on everyones faces when he entered a room.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother is survived by his wife of 30 years, Lucienne; their sons, Wayne Buckingham and wife, Carolyn, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Keith Buckingham of Cape Coral, Fla.; daughters, Lisa Daigle of Lewiston, Jocelyne Davino and husband, Rocco, Liliane Patrick and husband, Brian, and Francine Davino and husband, Rodney, all of Connecticut, and Jaci Volles and husband, Dan, of Chicago, Ill.; and two loving sisters, Mary Roberts of Rumford and Grace Hollis of Cape Cod, Mass.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Edwin, Frederick and Charles; and sister, Idella.

His legacy of love and compassion continues to live through his family, including 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren extending throughout the country from Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington, Texas and Connecticut.

Preston, ‘My Love,’ ‘Dad,’ ‘Bucky,’ ‘Pepere,’ ‘Grandpa,’ ‘Papa,’ ‘Uncle Pret,’ will be sadly missed by all of those he touched with his unconditional love and generosity.