Kenneth Buckingham

Kenneth W. Buckingham, 73, longtime Soap Lake resident, passed away suddenly but peacefully at home, Thursday, July 14, 2011. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 23, 2011 at Don's Restaurant (Banquet Room) in Soap Lake. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake.

He was born July 3, 1938 in White Sulfur Springs, Montana to Fredrick and Wilma Buckingham. Kenneth graduated from high school in 1959. He was a great dad, grampa and friend to many. He loved animals, dogs and cats alike. He enjoyed bag pipes, Elvis Presley and Sarah Brightman music and singing. He really enjoyed his road trips with his friends, fishing, hunting, running Bloomsday, sports and most of all his family.

He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 28, 1963. He worked at the Peshastin Lumber Mill and then moved to Seattle and worked for Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction. In 1974 he began working for the Grant County P.U.D. in Ephrata and later retired. He was Soap Lake's Chamber of Commerce President and helped with setting up the Giant Christmas tree on main street for several years. He loved helping out barbequing lambs during the Greek Festival. He was a Fire Commissioner for District 7 in Lakeview.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother and one sister, Roberta Duran of California.

Kenneth is survived by a brother, Richard Buckingham, East Wenatchee; six sisters, Donna Hughes, Granite Falls, WA, Jeanie McArthur, Wenatchee, Edith Baird, Winnemucca, NV, Hazel Rayfield, Wenatchee, Carla Darlington, Cashmere, WA and Patty Davis, Cashmere, WA; one daughter and son-in-law, April and Santiago Rendon, East Wenatchee; one son, Hamilton "Todd" Buckingham, East Wenatchee; four grandchildren, Kiesha Scheib and Samantha Clark, both of East Wenatchee and Ryan Buckingham and Megan Buckingham, both of Tacoma, WA; two great-grandchildren, Kiarra Scheib and Joshua Cumpton; numerous nieces and nephews; and two of the best friends, Jerry and Joan Roseberry.

He will be greatly missed by all.