Althea Buckle

Althea Marguerite Buckle, age 93, of Welda, Kansas, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2013, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola, Kansas. Althea was born on March 24, 1920 in Colony, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Serene) Turner. She grew up in the Colony/Welda area. She was united in marriage to Robert T. Buckle on November 15, 1941. Three sons were born to this union; Don, Robert and Richard. Althea worked for Nichols Grocery Store in Welda until she decided to join Bob on his job and travel with the Santa Fe Railroad. They lived in a trailer and moved with Bob's crew throughout eastern Kansas. Wherever they went, Althea would get up the next morning and after Bob went to work she would make a plate of cookies and go to meet the neighbors in the trailer court. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, crafting in general, and the last several years of their retirement, she helped Bob in his woodshop painting some of the things he made. They also liked to travel with friends and family. She enjoyed watching sports, especially the KU Jayhawks. Bob and Althea had many good friends and celebrated nearly 66 years together before Bob passed in 2007. Althea was a member of the Welda Methodist Church; Order of Eastern Star and received her 50 year pin; the Welda Friendship Quilting Club; and the Retired Santa Fe Railroaders. She was preceded in death by her beloved Bob, their son Robert, her parents, and all of her brothers and sisters; Lawrence, Claude (Bud), Charles (Junior), Lee, Pearl Borror, and Maxine Rook Cooper. She leaves to mourn her sons Don Buckle and wife Melva of Joplin; Richard Buckle and wife Kloma of Colony; grandchildren Kim and Mark Couch of Joplin; Dan Buckle of Palm Springs, California; Darla and Rick Easter of Joplin; Chris and Marcie Buckle of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Melissa and Sid Hobbs of Colony; Tom and Sharon Buckle of Colony; great grandchildren Heather and Scott Marshall, Shane Couch, Taylor Couch, Brittany Easter, Brice Easter, Nate Berry, Gabe Berry, Brody Hobbs, Levi Ashmore, Blake Ashmore, Noah Ashmore; four great-great grandchildren, Guiliana and Everson Marshall, and Lily and Gentry Couch; sisters-in-law Reva Turner and Ivy Lankton and husband Ralph; brother-in-law Jim Buckle; and a large extended family and a host of friends. Her family gave her a birthday party when she turned 90, and a heavy snow fell that day. Althea told the people who came "I'm glad you all came to my party, but if it was your party and it snowed like this, I'd stayed at home." But she loved everyone she met, and they loved her, and she'd be glad you came today. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2013, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Welda Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Welda Community Building and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com