Ralph Buckner

Ralph Buckner, Sr., 82, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Sunday, December 08, 2002 at the family residence. Mr. Buckner was the founder of Murphy-Buckner Funeral Home in 1951 and co-owner and founder of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home of Cleveland and Higgins Funeral Home in Benton. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer and also a farmer for over fifty years. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in WWII. He was 32 degree Mason and a member of the Cleveland Lodge, and was a member of the Cleveland Shrine Club. He was the co-founder of Lea Atchley Rescue Unit and was Commissioner of the Cleveland Police Department from 1973-1979. Mr. Buckner was the son of the late, Walter C. and Lillie Dalton Buckner and was also preceded in death by his brothers: Hoyt Buckner, Henegar Buckner, Earl Buckner, Bob Buckner and Elmer Buckner; his sisters: Ruth Hooper, Gertrude Hughes and Mildred Thompson. Survivors include his beloved wife of 58 years, Stella Cheek Buckner of Cleveland; children and spouses: Becky and Michael Rooks, Linda and David Hunt, Judy and Sonny Harvey and Ralph Buckner, Jr., and Chari all of Cleveland; grandchildren: Amy Branscom of Knoxville, Eric Neff of Findley, Ohio, Jacen Hunt, Holly Hunt, Paul Harvey, Ralph (Brandon) Buckner, III, Shipley Buckner, Stella Buckner and Paris Buckner all of Cleveland; sisters, Cecil Burris of Cleveland and Isabell Emory of Knoxville; nieces and nephews: Virginia Wallace, Jackie Buckner, David Emory, Jimmy Emory, Roy Burris, Naomi Sexton, Jean Burger, Virginia Emory, Dean Thompson, Homer Thompson, Katherine Hulett, Elizabeth Fuller, Shirley Tatum, Bobbie Hicks, George Edward Hughes, Charles Hughes, Earl Buckner, Jr., Curtis Buckner, Carolyn Buckner, Steve Buckner, Leann Poole and Hoyt Buckner.