James Benjamin Buckwalter

James Benjamin Buckwalter, “Pa Buck”, age 87, passed away on December 6, 2024, due to heart failure and Parkinson’s disease. 

Jim was born March 25, 1937, at the home of his Grandmother Buckwalter in American Fork, Utah. He was the third son of Benjamin and Florence Buckwalter. He grew up working with his brothers on the family farm in American Fork. He graduated from American Fork High School and also from BYU with a BES degree in Civil Engineering.

He married Diane Johnson from Holden, Utah, September 30, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they have made their home in Holladay ever since. Diane passed away in 2016, after a 20 year battle with cancer. Jim worked for Hercules, Inc. for 34 years as a tool design engineer. In his later years he also worked at Wheeler Farm as a part-time farmer and special assistant to Santa Claus.

He loved his family very much; he also loved hunting, fishing, all sports, BYU and his grumpy old friends (basketball grandpas who became minor local celebrities). This same group enjoyed many trips throughout the western U.S. including Alaska, where Jim was proud to have traveled eight times including with his sons in 2019. He was co-pilot for several cross-country moving adventures of his children.

Jim was an active Latter-day Saint and was a former bishop of the Cottonwood 7th Ward. He also served as assistant scoutmaster for 20 years. He coached little league baseball at Crown Colony for 14 years, and was a faithful spectator at the sporting events of his kids and grandkids. He coached his kids on many other community and church sports teams and after a 25 year hiatus returned to help coach his grandsons in Jr. Jazz basketball. Jim always had fruit trees and a vegetable garden. As a widower, he has enjoyed his Rock Steady boxing class with Coach Gina, and his at-home billiards room which came about by removing all the furniture from the living room!

We remember our dad for his wisdom, integrity, sense of duty, countless sacrifices for his family, and working hard at everything and expecting us to do the same. We recall with fondness many outings in the camper and red Ford pickup truck.

He is survived by his six children: Tami (Chad) Morris, Ben (Jessica), Ted (Robyn), Jeff (Tanya), Amy (Joshua) Parker, and Mark (Ashley) Buckwalter. He is also survived by 25 grandchildren, his brother Steven and sister Joy Hansen. Preceded in death by his wife Diane, his parents, and his siblings Kent, Lee, and Merry.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 14 at 10:30 a.m at the Cottonwood 4th Ward, 5565 S. Neighbor Lane (1610 East). Viewing 9:00-10:15 a.m. at the ward building.

Interment, Holden Town Cemetery.