David Nelson Buckner, 82, of Lexington died on July 19, 2024, of complications of COPD. 

He was the son of the late Col. Jean Hugo Buckner, USMC (ret.) and Helen Frances Nelson Buckner.

Surviving are his wife, Anne; son, Jeffrey Steven Burr; daughters, Teresa Anne Buckner and Susan Anne Buckner Butler; son, Michael David Buckner;  sister, Mary Christine Buckner; four granddaughters and a great-granddaughter. 

He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Jan. 14, 1942. His mother, eight months pregnant with him, witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor from the front porch of the family’s military quarters. Meanwhile, his father was a busy Marine captain commanding an anti-aircraft battery on far-off MidwayIsland, during the simultaneous attack there. David arrived a month later, and his mother and he were evacuated stateside. He finally met his father for the first time at age three. 

He graduated from St. John’sMilitary School and The American University in Washington, D.C. While at AU, he was sworn in to the Marine Corps Reserve by his father. After boot camp, his Reserve service included marching in the funerals of President John F. Kennedy, former President Herbert Hoover, and General Douglas MacArthur.  Here, he formed a lifelong friendship with Craig McAllister and Pieter van der Veer, who were in his second wedding. Upon graduation from AU, he was commissioned into the Marine Corps and completed The Basic School in the 1966 TBS-1cohort. Later, he attended AmphibiousWarfare School in Norfolk.

David was an infantry and logistics officer who, among other things, served two combat tours in Vietnam and two deployments to Beirut, in the US contingent of the UN peacekeeping effort in the early 1980s. He was then posted to the US Navy headquarters in London where he met Anne in 1983. His final assignment was as Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Range Control Officer.

After a 30-year career, he retired as a lieutenant colonel. He and Anne then went to London to study art history and graduated as Diplomates of the Royal Society of Arts (not as grand as it sounds), at the Christies School in London. They then discovered Lexington and moved there in 1993.

David served as the property manager for the Rockbridge Historical Society. He was an accomplished woodworker who meticulously refurbished the old woodwork and window sashes in their 1840ish house in Kerrs Creek, which they slowly, very slowly, restored over 30 years. He took the Master Gardener course in 1998 and loved it, especially the Master Gardeners themselves. In his family tradition, he closely observed the nature all around him, loving gardens and especially trees. He blossomed as a cook and became a dedicated cat lover. David treasured the Lexington community. He was a very warm man with a wonderful laugh. 

He, along with Anne, was a member of the group who organized the successful campaign against Nestle’s proposed bottling plant at Big Spring in Kerrs Creek, and again against the proposed Boy Scout Jamboree in Goshen.

His fellow Marines have spoken of his fairness, knowledge, and proficiency as a Marine officer. He thoroughly enjoyed being a Marine, mostly, and loved the Corps. David was a colorful officer and leader.

A celebration of life will be held at Harrison Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6. A lunch buffet will follow at the Southern Inn, 37 S. Main Street, Lexington. All are invited. At a later time we will be taking his ashes to Arlington National Cemetery for a military funeral, date to be determined.

Semper Fi

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory.