Richard Franklin Buckner

Richard Franklin (Frank) Buckner passed away on December 12, 2016. Frank leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years, Lillian Ragsdale, brother, Billy, sons Ricky (Dawn), Byron (Amie), and Heath (Emily), and daughter Trish (Jason Webb), eleven grandchildren, four grandchildren-in-law, and five great-grandchildren. Those who knew him well will understand how hard it is to put into words all that he was. Frank was a servant of God, a devoted husband, loving father, caring friend, farmer and businessman, in that order. He was incredibly hard-working and yet remained devoted to his family, he was driven yet selfless, proud without arrogance, courageous without conceit, successful without vanity, funny without frivolity, and generous in time, resources, and love to all he met. He was, in short, the embodiment of the best that mankind has to offer. Over his 76 years in this life, Frank made a tremendous mark on his corner of the world. As a lifelong resident of the town of Springville and member of the Springville High Class of 1958, he served his God, family, church, community, state, and country with relentless devotion. In addition to serving as the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Chairman under two separate gubernatorial administrations, he was a member of the Alabama Republican Party’s Governor’s Circle, a deacon emeritus at Deerfoot Baptist Church, the namesake of the Springville Elementary School library, and served in numerous civic, corporate, and philanthropic boards, including the Christian Coalition of Alabama, Ashville Savings Bank, Metro Bank, Colonial Bank, the Boy Scouts of America, Springville Band Boosters, Springville School PTO, was an honorary member of the Order of the Purple Heart, and many others. Please join us in celebrating Frank’s life with a visitation at Deerfoot Baptist Church on Friday December 16, 2016 from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. and a memorial service on Saturday December 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM with burial immediately following at Springville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making tax-deductible contributions to the Frank and Lillian Buckner Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 2003 by Frank and Lillian’s children to honor them for their decades of generosity and to continue their charitable impact on the world. Gifts to the Foundation can be mailed to: The Frank and Lillian Buckner Foundation Attn: Emily J. Buckner, Executive Director PO Box 889 Springville, AL 35146

Richard Franklin Buckner

February 7, 1940 - December 12, 2016