Ina “Idell” Williams Buckley

Ina “Idell” Williams Buckley of Dallas, Texas passed away Friday, January 20, 2023. She was 93.

Idell was born on June 18, 1929 at her family home in Sayre, Oklahoma where she grew up surrounded by a large, loving family. After high school, Idell moved to Oklahoma City to attend business college. She liked the experiences of the big city and was always ready for another adventure. So, after graduating business college, Idell and a college friend enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After basic training in Texas, they were assigned to Travis Air Force Base in Long Beach, California.

Idell was assigned to work in an office where she met Charles Buckley, who was also born and raised in Oklahoma. After a short time of working together and getting to know each other, they discovered that they shared the same values and goals for the future. They were both hard workers devoted to serving their country, and they both wanted to build a family and see the world. In June of 1953, after the two dated for a short time, Charles was deployed to Korea. Idell wrote to Charles every day during that year. Being away from each other through that time helped them realize that they belonged together.

Just a few short days after Charles returned from a year’s deployment in Korea, Charles and Idell married in Long Beach, California on July 11, 1954. Idell was honorably discharged from the Air Force after marriage, but she continued to serve her country by supporting her husband and his military career.

It wasn’t long before the young couple started a family. Karen, the first of their four children, was born in Sacramento, California at Mather Air Force base. Charles Jr. and Barbara were both born in San Antonio, Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. Their youngest child, Susan, was born in Montgomery, Alabama at Maxwell Air Force Base.

During their marriage and service to our country, Charles and Idell lived and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Idell loved being a military wife and mother to her four children. Military life and the frequent moving to different cities, states, and countries can make life difficult, especially on young children, but Idell worked tirelessly to make each one of those moves a positive learning adventure. She loved each new place the military took them and enjoyed learning about and sharing the history of the places they lived. As a result, her family treasured the adventures they all experienced together.

After 30 years of travel and experience in the armed services, Charles retired from the military with Idell by his side. They moved to Dallas, Texas in the summer of 1975 and started the next of many great journeys together.

Retirement from the military was a transition to civilian life that allowed them to enjoy owning a home. New opportunities for working and building a fresh start excited them as well. Idell had set a shining example of what it meant to be a wife and mother. Passing on traditions and creating new traditions with her family was a passion of hers, and she loved watching her children grow and carry on those traditions.

In addition to running a household, Idell worked outside of the home. She was always successful in her work and liked being around people. She flourished in accounting, running an office for a large company, and working at a department store. Charles and Idell always had success in their work, which made them a dynamic team. They were successful private business owners for more than a decade. Through this, the couple had opportunities to reach out to the community and touched may lives with their charity and kindness.

Whether moving with the military, or in Dallas living a civilian life, Idell made sure that home was the place where loved ones would always find their biggest cheerleader, the most heartfelt advice, a shoulder to cry on, and, most importantly, a soft place to fall.

Idell was the incurable optimist who would always find the best in a bad situation. She believed that a positive attitude and hard work were the keys to a successful, happy life. She taught her children that there are no limits to what they could achieve in life. She stressed the importance of getting a good education and having a giving spirit by living the values she taught. She was extremely proud that all of her children had great success in their education, work, and relationships. The traditions Idell created ensured a family bond that has stood the tests of both time and distance.

Idell showed great strength during Charles’ prolonged illness at the end of his life. They were married for 66 wonderful, loving, adventurous years until Charles passed away in April of 2021. After the loss of Charles, Idell remained strong and focused on maintaining close relationships with her children and grandchildren. She has truly been the glue that has held our family together. Her love, support and positive spirit will be missed by all who knew her.

Idell is survived by her children Karen Peck, Charles Buckley Jr., Barbara Buckley, Susan Buckley-Sherman, and Susan’s husband, Dmitri Sherman, her grandchildren Karlie Sherman, Maggie May Sherman, Susan Peck, and Susan’s husband, Jonas Diener, along with David Peck and wife Holly Peck. She also has two beautiful great-granddaughters Ellie Peck and Rosie Peck, her sisters Helen Rohlfing and Betty Jeter, Betty’s husband Wendell Jeter, her sister-in-law Billie Williams, and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins who were all dear to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents Pate Williams and Bessie May Blackman Williams, her siblings Carl Williams and his wife Bonnie Williams, Marion Williams and his wife Inez Williams, Lee Williams and his wife Winnie Williams, Lloyd Williams and his wife Sandy Williams, Noble Williams, Dorothy May Williams,  D.P. “Corky” Williams, his wife Norma Williams, and their daughter Lisa Marie Williams, Neva Bahringer and her husband Warren Henry “Junior” Bahringer, her nephew Farrell Jeter, and her son-in-law Gary Peck.

Services will be Monday, February 6, 2023

Chapel Service 12:30

The North Dallas Funeral Home

2710 Valley View Lane

Dallas, TX 75234

Military Honors & Burial

Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery

2000 Mountain Creek Parkway

Dallas, TX 75211

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of SMSgt Charles Roger Buckley Sr. & Idell Buckley.

https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/SPageNavigator/2017_donate_form_2.html-*

Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.

Arrangements under the direction of:

Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home

19310 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75252

(214) 306-6700