On Monday, November 6, Richard Bucklew, 95, of North Huntingdon, passed away at home with family by his side. Richard was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia and raised in McKeesport, PA. He was a devoted husband and family man and retired from U.S. Steel National Tube Works.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife Doris (Dunn); daughter, Debbie Komondor-Bucklew; granddaughter, Rachel Bucklew; brothers Robert, Bill, and Jim Bucklew; and his female companion later in life, Patricia Hamilton. He is survived by two sisters, Janet Riley, Joyce Barnicle, and brother, Ed Bucklew. He is survived by four children: Gloria (Scott) Brown, Peggy (Roy) Downs of Lewes, Delaware, Steve (Jennifer) Bucklew, Leslie (Steve) Goodes, and son-in-law Gene (Chris) Komondor. He was beloved Pap-Pap to fifteen grandchildren: Sheila (Josh) Katz, Alana (Jacquelyne) Downs, Elise (Jason) Bennett, Ryan Downs, Salvatore (Amy) Bauccio, Chiara (Ryan) Huet, Kate Komondor, Sara (Joel) Letham, Jeremy (Hannah) Bucklew, Jenna Bucklew, and Jason Bucklew; Jade Goodes, Jessie Goodes, Quinn Goodes, and Sunny Goodes. Richard was Great Grandpap to eleven great-grandchildren.
Rich was fun-loving, strong, dependable, and kind. This Jack-of-all-trades enjoyed building and fixing things and his hands were never idle. With a big heart and selfless nature, he used his skills to the benefit of his family and their families. He loved music, animals, and being outdoors. A keen reader, he was fascinated with outer-space, machinery, and technological marvels, especially self-driving cars.
Rich loved spending time with his grandchildren and was an expert at entertaining them. He’d concoct unique toys for them to play with, build outdoor swings and treehouses; then, when the weather cooled, he’d move the fun indoors. Outdoor swings were moved inside and the basement was cleared out for bike riding and roller skating.
There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family and Richard Bucklew was a hero to many. His sparkly, blue-eyed smile will be sorely missed and his memory cherished forever.
Richard’s family extends their appreciation to the staff at Bridges Hospice for their compassionate care and support.
Arrangements
Thursday, November 9
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 7 p.m. at…
James F. Kutch Funeral Home
433 Lincoln Highway
East Mckeesport, PA
(412) 823-4054
Friday, November 10
Blessing Service 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home; Burial with full military honors and internment immediately following at Irwin Union Cemetary.
In Lieu of Flowers
Donations can be made to The Wounded Warrior Project in honor of Richard.
Please leave condolences below.
25 Condolences
My Uncle Richie was a great man. He always spoke kindness to me. When we needed to move from PA to Texas, he was sad to see us go. I will always remember him fondly.
My dad was a very humble man! Along with being loving and caring he taught us forgiveness and unconditional love for others. His legacy is a gift that will keep giving! We were so blessed to have him and he will be truly missed! Love forever and always Peggy
I want to express my sympathy to Gloria Brown and all her family at the passing of her father. Although I did not know him he sounds like a wonderful father, grandfather and man. May your love and memories bring you comfort
I am very fortunate to call this man my father in law. Truly a very loving and generous man who never spoke an unkind word. He is an inspiration to us all. May you rest in peace Pap. Love, Jen
My deepest sympathy to the Bucklew family especially Peggy my dear friend. Find peace and joy knowing he is reunited with your mother and you all will be reunited in heaven. I enjoyed hearing what a wonderful life he had and what a great husband, partner, father and grandfather he was. May your memories bring you peace.
I couldn’t ask for a better Father, he was always there for me and my family. A gift is something you receive that you don’t deserve and I can’t begin to express how many times my Dad spent his time for me and I feel I did not deserve it.
Thank you Dad.
Steve, I loved reading about your Dad. I can feel his incredible nature shine through in the words. I looked at the picture of him with all of kids….. their love is undeniable. Also, I can see your Dad’s nature in you.
We’ll always remember the light that Richard brought to our family. His heart, his humor, and his energy made him so special. We lost a great man and the world is poorer for it.
There are so many incredible words I could use to describe my grandfather.
He was smart. I’d always say I’d have to study the newspaper before seeing him because I knew he’d be asking me questions about current events.
My grandfather was innovative. He liked to create new games to play or ways to fix things or improve how something worked.
He was strong. He always stayed active by walking and biking (even if he did embarrass me by riding his bike in the high school parking lot while I was in class). He’d say you gotta keep movin.
Most of all, my grandfather was kind and caring. He took such good care of his great big family. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for any one of us.
I feel so blessed to have had him as my grandfather and grateful that my children were able to know and love him too.
My Grandfather was nothing short of GRAND. He is the most gentle, loving, happy soul I have ever known. I am so grateful for the memories I have with him and I will cherish them for the rest of my life. Everything he did I want to carryon into my own family and pray his memory lives on forever. John 16:22, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Pap pap we love you may you rest in peace.
My pap pap was nothing but a loving, smart, and selfless man. I’m so greatful that I got HIM as a pappy, He always made me smile even on my worst days. I was blessed to get to spend so much more time with him while he was living with us, He always told me something positive about myself EVERYDAY, Whether it was how me and my sisters look like movie stars or that he thinks I am a hard worker, ( which i got that trait from him ) just because I work in the early mornings. He is truly the best, I know people say that about all of their loved ones, but TRUST when we all say this we MEAN IT. It was a blessing getting to grow up with such a person who I knew who loved me no matter what I did. I will love and miss him forever, I love you pap pap. And I also want to thank you for giving me my amazing mother. I love you so much.
Though I only met Rich about 3/4 times within in the time I’ve been part of the family, I could see how his presence and caring nature radiated through every member. Rich you will be missed by many and I know you are a proud father, brother, husband, grandfather!
(PT. 1) Pap Pap was extraordinary in so many ways: his kindness and selflessness knew no bounds, his creative ability to build and fix was unmatched, but most of all, the love he gave his family was endless. To be in Pap Pap’s presence was to feel love in its purest, most genuine way. He took an interest in everything we were involved in, never forgetting things that were important to us. My cousin Jade and I were extras in a movie that was filmed in Pittsburgh and for years following, Pap Pap made us feel like we were Hollywood’s biggest stars! He prioritized the happiness and wellbeing of his family in everything he did. He regularly took his grandchildren to parks with the best playgrounds around Southwest PA, McDonald’s for lunch, milkshakes, and time in the Play Place, and Chuck E. Cheese for special time together.
(PT. 2)
Pap Pap loved being with his family, and never missed an opportunity to have fun – dancing the Chicken Dance at every wedding, visiting Kennywood, and laughing at every semi-funny story we would tell him.
I can honestly say I’ve never met a kinder, happier person in my life. The world is dimmer without his radiant spirit. His love and legacy will live on in the family he so cherished.
May we all strive to be more like Rich Bucklew every day.
Steve. I am sorry for your loss. What an incredible family and prosperous life he led. God bless.
To my fellow tomato lover,
How words could not describe how funny, strong, resilient you are. You have taught me so much, even without words, but with unconditional love and kindness to everyone. I know I can speak for the entire family when I say you are incredible. Even when I shave my eyebrows off, dye my hair neon yellow and have metal hanging from my nose, you still would call me your “fashionista” or “movie star”. This unconditional love does not come so easily these days and I’m so grateful to have had you as a pap.
Watching Tom & Jerry, Popeye,and eating tomatoes and Klondikes on the red swing in the backyard are some of my favorite memories from childhood, and I’m so thankful for you beyond words. I will miss all your witty one liners and joking with you at the diner table. I will miss YOU dearly. Thank you Pap pap for being the best in the west, tally ho! Cheerio! Tata for now!! One of the 2 A-team members 💜(What he called me and my sister who worked together)
Kids love him, animals love him, the dance floor loves him, Eat n Park waitresses love him, Arby’s loves him (for keeping them in business!) but most importantly his family LOVES him.
I was lucky enough to get to live with Pap Pap when I was younger and later in life in my 20’s. When I was young, me and my sisters use to “clean” his room every week. We wouldn’t really do much cleaning and would just end up looking at all of his photos in frames and stealing his Winterfresh gum and Mentos. He would pay us in a personalized envelope with a stamp every week for our “hard work.”
When he first moved back in with us, we were all living it up on food. My Mom would make a big meal for dinner every night (at 5pm sharp) followed by a dessert. A lot of my favorite memories with Pap Pap are from eating dinner with him. He would always end his meal with a “good plan Les!” and stating that he was full. Then my Mom would ask if he wanted dessert and he would quickly change his mind. He was never too full for dessert, especially if it was pie or ice cream.
Pap Pap was never without a joke or two up his sleeve. He was such a funny, caring, generous, supportive, and loving man. I am so proud to call him my Pap Pap. I love you and I hope you tell Grandma and Aunt Debbie about us all.
Richard Bucklew was such a caring and sweet father/grandfather. Anytime I had the pleasure of visiting with him, at any family function, I could always see the love he had for everyone. I was very honored when he was able to attend my wedding to his grandson, Jeremy Bucklew, on August 15th, 2020. Due to Covid, not all of our guests were able to enjoy the day. Jeremy and I just recently watched a video of us being able to take pictures with him as well as Richard being able to dance the “The Chicken Dance” with fellow family members. I wish I could have known Richard longer, but he is finally able to have the peace he deserves. Thank you for this beautiful family I am now apart of. -Hannah
I am so blessed to have the best grandfather I could possibly hope for, and I got to enjoy him for 35 years. He was truly as kind and selfless as he was tough and dependable. I don’t have one bad memory of him, and he never, ever failed to make me or the rest of his grandchildren smile, laugh, or feel loved. His exploits are legendary, and he had more one-liners than Eastwood, Arnold, Stallone, and Willis put together. He was the ultimate family man, and I have a huge loving family I can’t be grateful enough for as a result. Thank you so much for everything Grandpap, I love and miss you so much.
Pap pap was the best! He was humble and kind, and took joy in helping others, wanting nothing In return. The 3rd of 15 grandchildren, I never felt like I had to compete for his attention even when a new baby would come along. He always made each of us feel special and took interest in our hobbies, life events, etc. Even in his weakened state at the end, he took the time to ask about my life and look at pictures of my pets. After grandma passed away, he used to us all Valentine’s Day cards with $5 every year- it always made my day in those cold months! For the majority of my life, there has always been distance between me and pap, but I’ve always known he loves and supports me, and I feel peace that he felt that from me too. I’m honored to have him as my pap and only aspire to be more like him!
To all the Bucklew children of my Uncle Richie: Many found memories visiting with Uncle Richie and Aunt Doris and their family at Christmas time as a child with my Parents Carl and Irene. God blessed all of you with wonderful parents. Marlene Skiavo
Pap pap was an incredible man! I always felt like he could fix anything and he always had the perfect answer for any situation. Loving, patient, thoughtful, honest and always so kind. He was a rare gift to this world and I will always cherish my memories with him. I will still never understand how we was able to know so much about everything. I remember being into skateboarding growing up and he was somehow able to know all the pro’s names, all the famous tricks and we would be able to talk for hours. What a guy, he will be missed but never forgotten.
Dear Pap Pap,
This was my hardest goodbye. I’m going to miss every single thing about you. The way you said “Jenna Lee!” to me, your smile, your hugs, your laugh, saying “that’s kuckabooya”, walking into my house with an Eat ‘n Park pie every Saturday. Always asking me how the Penguins were doing and if I’ve gone to any games lately. You have showed us all how to unconditionally love and work hard in general. I will never forget you and what you’ve done for our family. I’ll miss you so much. Love, Jenna Lee
Uncle Richie was one of the sweetest men I’ve ever known. He deserved his long life.
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