DATE: Wednesday, May 7, 1997                TAG: 9705070409

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   38 lines

RICHARD W. BUCKINGHAM

The Rev. Mr. Richard W. Buckingham of the 300 block of W. Brambleton Ave. died May 6, 1997, in a local nursing home.

He was born Aug. 14, 1911, at home in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and graduated from American University in 1934. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Drew Seminary, Madison, N.J., and became an ordained Methodist minister in 1939. Over the years he served many churches in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. After retirement from the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mr. Buckingham helped start a new Methodist church in Esko, Minn., while living in the area. He and his wife moved to Norfolk in 1985. He volunteered as an adjunct chaplain on weekends at the Norfolk General Hospital and helped area churches as needed. He became a member of the Norfolk Ambassadors in 1989.

Survivors include his wife of 57 1/2 years, Muriel E. Buckingham; two daughters, Barbara and her husband, Dr. Michael Bowermaster of Staunton, Va., Mary and her husband, Richard J. Maturi of Cheyenne, Wyo.; son, David E. Buckingham and his wife, Linda of Great Bridge, Va.; brother, Lewis D. Buckingham and his wife, Elizabeth, of Fort Myer, Va. Mr. Buckingham was blessed with six grandsons, Thomas Jones and his wife, Supa, Lewis Jones and his wife, Cathi, Craig and Matthew Maturi, Jonathan and Paxton Buckingham; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Marc Jones.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Virginia Wesleyan College Library Book Fund, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va. 23502.

The family will be at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, to receive friends. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9, in Epworth United Methodist Church, Freemason and Boush streets. The Rev. Mr. Roy P. White will conduct the service. Burial will be later at a gravesite given to Mr. Buckingham by the congregation of the first conference appointment he served in St. Mary's County, Md. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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