Paul Buck

Paul Kenneth Buck, 76, Concord (but formerly from Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Cloud, FL), passed away peacefully at Tucker Hospice House on August 4, 2021. Paul was the fourth born child in his family on April 14, 1945 to his parents Harold and Alice Buck in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Indianapolis Tech High School in 1964 and was drafted into the army in October of 1965. Paul served in Vietnam from May of 1966 to June of 1967 and got out of the army in October 1967. He says that Vietnam had a lasting effect on him. Because of this, he published a book entitled I Tried to Speak to help those who have also experienced PTSD from the war. Many of the poems in the book are based on the things that he saw in the war.

Mr. Buck hired on with Trans World Airlines in October 1967, and worked for them in Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Orlando, Florida. When American Airlines bought out TWA, Paul worked for American until his retirement in 2010.

Paul met his wife, Linda Toney, on a blind date in 1970 and eloped 6 weeks later. Unfortunately, he lost Linda to breast cancer in 2009. Losing Linda hit him very hard, but he always made known that he was very grateful for the 39 great years they had together. He stated in the end he was so ready to graduate from this life so he could be with Linda again. Along with Linda, he was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Alice Buck and brothers Tom and Brad Buck.

Paul leaves behind his sons Jason (Amanda) and Adam (Hilary), grandchildren (Abaigael, McKayla, Landen, and Cecilia), brother (Luke), and sister Sally Baughman. In addition to this, he leaves behind many friends from around the US that include the American Legion Posts 80 and 51, VFW Posts 4225 and 6480, the Military History Museum in Kissimmee, FL, Euchre clubs, his weekly Friday breakfast group, and his two four-legged “kids,” Ranger and Maggie (whom he said regularly that Ranger thought the only reason for Paul moving up to NC was to pet him all of the time).

In addition to joke telling and being a person that never gave up, he was a talented artist and poet. Paul left behind a poem that fits this moment, and he would want his family to share it.

THE OTHER SIDE
By Paul Buck

I’ve had my share
Of trouble and strife
But all things considered
It’s been a great life

I have no complaints
No reason to cry
I’ve always been lucky
In all that I’ve tried

So I’ll tell you the truth
No reason to lie
Sooner or later
We are all going to die

But mourning is for the living
Don’t waste it on me
For only after death
Will my soul be free

Being a good Christian
Was never easy for me
For in life I was blinded
But in death I will see

Christ has forgiven
All of my sins
And I have no doubt
We’ll see Him in the end

In his pure light
We will forever abide
And we’ll all be together
On The Other Side.

In lieu of flowers, Paul would love if you would tell a funny joke, pay for a stranger's meal anonymously (as he did regularly), and/or spend quality time with your family. If you want to make a donation in his honor, please send monies to one of these charities:

Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County
ATTN: Veterans Fund
5005 Hospice Lane
Kannapolis, NC 28083

OR

Saving Grace K9's
(that helps train service dogs from the shelter to help Veterans with PTSD locally)

https://savinggracek9s.org/