BEN LOMOND, Calif. — Charles ‘Buck’ Buxton, 75,
died on December 19, 2020, after a brave and stoic battle with cancer. He was a true renaissance man, liable at any moment to break into a vault of memorized poetry, cook you a gourmet meal, dazzle you with his portfolio of travel photography or pour you a glass of his homemade cooking wine.
He was the type of man who would toddle off to bed before all the guests had left his party, who did push-ups every morning, read multiple books at one time, would look at his kids and say “you know you guys are really great” as his way of saying I love you. So many things in this world will forever be attached to Buxton’s memory. He was never a teacher in the traditional sense, but, instead, believed in actions, and through his own, he taught those around him how life could be lived.
The youngest child of John and Lois Buxton, Buck grew up in Little Rock. He had a paper route, played on the Hall High school football team, loved to fish, hunt and pal around with his best friend, Phillip. He was the younger brother of two sisters, Mary and Margie.
He went to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and earned an engineering degree. Following graduation, and in the tradition of his father, he joined the Officer Candidate School for the Marines, doing his training at Quantico. But Buck decided not to stay in the Marines and went to Vietnam in 1968 as a contractor.
On returning to the US, he joined a real estate developer in Southern California where he met his beloved Trish, who was working as a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines. He and Trish traveled the world together, moving from Los Angeles to Little Rock before settling down in San Jose, Calif., in 1978.
Shortly after, in 1980, they had their first child, Sean, and, later their daughter, Natasha. Together, he and Trish created a storybook childhood for their children and filled it with travel and adventure before Trish’s tragic death in 1992.
Buck joined L & D construction in 1981. At L & D, he managed the construction of many residential housing projects in numerous cities in the Bay Area. Most of this work was building much needed ‘affordable housing’, for people of limited income. He finished his long successful career and retired from L & D in May 2019.
Buck was passionate about adventure travel. To put the term ‘adventure’ in perspective and the types of trips he enjoyed most were ones like in 2008 when he and friends made a trip to Bhutan that included hiking 120 miles in eight days in the Himalayan Mountains, and camping and hiking in the snow at elevations over 16,000ft. He also did a trip to Peru that included hiking in the Andes for five days at elevations over 15,000ft. Trips to Africa and Russia with his partner, Kathryn, and his sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Ralph, were also some of his recent favorites.
Buck also loved to run and bike outdoors. He completed several marathons in his 30’s. His love of cycling grew as he got older and the joints got creakier. He lived a vibrant life as a true outdoorsman and lover of the wild. He was Pops to his son, Sean. Dad to his ‘lil bit,’ Natasha. Gramps to Avery and Brynn. Buxton to his partner, Kathryn, and Buck to his many, many friends. Authentic to a fault in all his roles, he was a man always after a fine story, a beautiful image, an abalone dive or a big fish. Always curious of what was around the next bend, seeing the world not just through his camera lens, but immersing himself physically and mentally.
Buck is survived by his children, Natasha and Sean; his grandchildren Avery and Brynn; and his sister, Mary Frances Cotham; and half-brother, John Buxton. He is predeceased by his wife, Patricia Anne Buxton, and his sister, Margaret Buxton.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, family and friends will not be able to gather immediately and celebrate Buxton’s life. The family will plan something in Little Rock once it is safe to travel and gather again. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to any wildlife or nature conservation effort. Buck, you are loved and missed. Be at peace.