George William (Bill) Buker passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 surrounded by his family at Maine General Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 79 years old. Bill was born on Clinton Street in Gardiner, Maine on July 6, 1936 to his parents Harold Griffin Buker and Annie May Colfer Patrick Buker. He attended schools in Gardiner and graduated from Gardiner High School in 1954. Bill played football and basketball all four years of high school. He continued his education at the University of Maryland and Riverside City College, California and also completed courses offered by the U. S. Air Force.
He married his high school sweetheart Laura J. Booker in August 1954 at Sampson Air Base, New York. They were married for 61 years.
After graduation from high school, Bill joined the Air Force and remained in the service for ten years. He was stationed on Long Island, NY, Portsmouth, NH, West Palm Beach, FL, and Riverside, CA. He also spent time in the Far East and in Greenland (He always remembered landing on the ice cap in a huge cargo plane on the fourth of July when it was snowing and the sun was out almost 24 hours a day).
After discharge from the military, Bill managed a drive-in theater in southern California for a few years while attending college. He and his family returned to Maine in 1967. Upon returning, Bill worked for the State of Maine for twenty four years ending his career as the State Budget Officer, a position he had held for twelve years. He was appointed to the position by both Governor's Joe Brennan and John McKernan.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Lewis and Francis Patrick and sister Adeline Patrick Morse Liester. He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughters Karen Lovejoy Ryder & husband, Jon and Linda Clark & husband, Scott. Grandchildren Lisa Clark Daniels, her husband, Chris and their daughter Lily; Kevin Clark, his wife Christina, their daughters Alexis and Natalie and son Ronan; Brian Lovejoy & his wife, Amanda; Becky Lovejoy Tilson, husband, Jeremy and their sons Hayden and Landen; Whitney Ryder Hall, her husband Derek and their daughter Ryleigh and son Benjamin; and Bria Ryder. He is also survived by his sister Loralie Buker Pushard, her husband Donald and many nieces and nephews in the Pushard, Morse and Patrick families.
After retiring, Bill and Laura traveled through all of the 48 contiguous states. He took up painting with watercolors. He enjoyed playing golf and going downhill skiing at Sugarloaf with his longtime co-worker and friend Martin Cloutier. Bill taught four of his grandchildren how to ski and enjoyed being with them on the mountain until he could no longer keep up with them. He also spent time in his workshop making furniture for his family.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. at Staples Funeral Home, Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine. The funeral will be at 3:30 pm following the visiting. Internment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association or the First Baptist Church of Gardiner. (Staples Funeral Home and Central Maine Newspapers 9/14/2015)
He married his high school sweetheart Laura J. Booker in August 1954 at Sampson Air Base, New York. They were married for 61 years.
After graduation from high school, Bill joined the Air Force and remained in the service for ten years. He was stationed on Long Island, NY, Portsmouth, NH, West Palm Beach, FL, and Riverside, CA. He also spent time in the Far East and in Greenland (He always remembered landing on the ice cap in a huge cargo plane on the fourth of July when it was snowing and the sun was out almost 24 hours a day).
After discharge from the military, Bill managed a drive-in theater in southern California for a few years while attending college. He and his family returned to Maine in 1967. Upon returning, Bill worked for the State of Maine for twenty four years ending his career as the State Budget Officer, a position he had held for twelve years. He was appointed to the position by both Governor's Joe Brennan and John McKernan.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Lewis and Francis Patrick and sister Adeline Patrick Morse Liester. He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughters Karen Lovejoy Ryder & husband, Jon and Linda Clark & husband, Scott. Grandchildren Lisa Clark Daniels, her husband, Chris and their daughter Lily; Kevin Clark, his wife Christina, their daughters Alexis and Natalie and son Ronan; Brian Lovejoy & his wife, Amanda; Becky Lovejoy Tilson, husband, Jeremy and their sons Hayden and Landen; Whitney Ryder Hall, her husband Derek and their daughter Ryleigh and son Benjamin; and Bria Ryder. He is also survived by his sister Loralie Buker Pushard, her husband Donald and many nieces and nephews in the Pushard, Morse and Patrick families.
After retiring, Bill and Laura traveled through all of the 48 contiguous states. He took up painting with watercolors. He enjoyed playing golf and going downhill skiing at Sugarloaf with his longtime co-worker and friend Martin Cloutier. Bill taught four of his grandchildren how to ski and enjoyed being with them on the mountain until he could no longer keep up with them. He also spent time in his workshop making furniture for his family.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. at Staples Funeral Home, Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine. The funeral will be at 3:30 pm following the visiting. Internment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association or the First Baptist Church of Gardiner. (Staples Funeral Home and Central Maine Newspapers 9/14/2015)
George William (Bill) Buker passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 surrounded by his family at Maine General Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 79 years old. Bill was born on Clinton Street in Gardiner, Maine on July 6, 1936 to his parents Harold Griffin Buker and Annie May Colfer Patrick Buker. He attended schools in Gardiner and graduated from Gardiner High School in 1954. Bill played football and basketball all four years of high school. He continued his education at the University of Maryland and Riverside City College, California and also completed courses offered by the U. S. Air Force.
He married his high school sweetheart Laura J. Booker in August 1954 at Sampson Air Base, New York. They were married for 61 years.
After graduation from high school, Bill joined the Air Force and remained in the service for ten years. He was stationed on Long Island, NY, Portsmouth, NH, West Palm Beach, FL, and Riverside, CA. He also spent time in the Far East and in Greenland (He always remembered landing on the ice cap in a huge cargo plane on the fourth of July when it was snowing and the sun was out almost 24 hours a day).
After discharge from the military, Bill managed a drive-in theater in southern California for a few years while attending college. He and his family returned to Maine in 1967. Upon returning, Bill worked for the State of Maine for twenty four years ending his career as the State Budget Officer, a position he had held for twelve years. He was appointed to the position by both Governor's Joe Brennan and John McKernan.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Lewis and Francis Patrick and sister Adeline Patrick Morse Liester. He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughters Karen Lovejoy Ryder & husband, Jon and Linda Clark & husband, Scott. Grandchildren Lisa Clark Daniels, her husband, Chris and their daughter Lily; Kevin Clark, his wife Christina, their daughters Alexis and Natalie and son Ronan; Brian Lovejoy & his wife, Amanda; Becky Lovejoy Tilson, husband, Jeremy and their sons Hayden and Landen; Whitney Ryder Hall, her husband Derek and their daughter Ryleigh and son Benjamin; and Bria Ryder. He is also survived by his sister Loralie Buker Pushard, her husband Donald and many nieces and nephews in the Pushard, Morse and Patrick families.
After retiring, Bill and Laura traveled through all of the 48 contiguous states. He took up painting with watercolors. He enjoyed playing golf and going downhill skiing at Sugarloaf with his longtime co-worker and friend Martin Cloutier. Bill taught four of his grandchildren how to ski and enjoyed being with them on the mountain until he could no longer keep up with them. He also spent time in his workshop making furniture for his family.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. at Staples Funeral Home, Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine. The funeral will be at 3:30 pm following the visiting. Internment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association or the First Baptist Church of Gardiner. (Staples Funeral Home and Central Maine Newspapers 9/14/2015)
He married his high school sweetheart Laura J. Booker in August 1954 at Sampson Air Base, New York. They were married for 61 years.
After graduation from high school, Bill joined the Air Force and remained in the service for ten years. He was stationed on Long Island, NY, Portsmouth, NH, West Palm Beach, FL, and Riverside, CA. He also spent time in the Far East and in Greenland (He always remembered landing on the ice cap in a huge cargo plane on the fourth of July when it was snowing and the sun was out almost 24 hours a day).
After discharge from the military, Bill managed a drive-in theater in southern California for a few years while attending college. He and his family returned to Maine in 1967. Upon returning, Bill worked for the State of Maine for twenty four years ending his career as the State Budget Officer, a position he had held for twelve years. He was appointed to the position by both Governor's Joe Brennan and John McKernan.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Lewis and Francis Patrick and sister Adeline Patrick Morse Liester. He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughters Karen Lovejoy Ryder & husband, Jon and Linda Clark & husband, Scott. Grandchildren Lisa Clark Daniels, her husband, Chris and their daughter Lily; Kevin Clark, his wife Christina, their daughters Alexis and Natalie and son Ronan; Brian Lovejoy & his wife, Amanda; Becky Lovejoy Tilson, husband, Jeremy and their sons Hayden and Landen; Whitney Ryder Hall, her husband Derek and their daughter Ryleigh and son Benjamin; and Bria Ryder. He is also survived by his sister Loralie Buker Pushard, her husband Donald and many nieces and nephews in the Pushard, Morse and Patrick families.
After retiring, Bill and Laura traveled through all of the 48 contiguous states. He took up painting with watercolors. He enjoyed playing golf and going downhill skiing at Sugarloaf with his longtime co-worker and friend Martin Cloutier. Bill taught four of his grandchildren how to ski and enjoyed being with them on the mountain until he could no longer keep up with them. He also spent time in his workshop making furniture for his family.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. at Staples Funeral Home, Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine. The funeral will be at 3:30 pm following the visiting. Internment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association or the First Baptist Church of Gardiner. (Staples Funeral Home and Central Maine Newspapers 9/14/2015)
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