David V. Buckley

David V. Buckley, 85, passed away December 8, 2021. David was born August 22, 1936, in Atchison, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doris (Vermette) and John Buckley, sister, Mary Kim Rietman, and aunt, Estelle Hoagland. David is survived by Glennie Buckley, his wife of 61 years, daughter, Mary Sean (Gregg) Ratzloff, son, Robert, and five grandchildren, Spencer, Bennett and Alicia Ratzloff, and Clay and Ryan Buckley. David loved being with his family. He coached his son's baseball and basketball teams, and served as a Boy Scout Cub master. Later, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love of history with Glennie and their two eldest grandsons on summer trips to various states and Civil War and Revolutionary War sites.

David graduated from Atchison High School and Washburn University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Washburn golf team. He was a great story teller, including stories about his life in Atchison and the many jobs he had in high school including digging ditches, working in a foundry and in an alcohol plant. Following his graduation from Washburn Law School, he practiced law in Atchison for a brief time before joining the FBI as a Special Agent. While in the FBI, he was stationed in Washington D.C.; Quantico, Virginia; New York City; Mobile and Selma, Alabama; New Orleans and Alexandria, Louisiana; Altus and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri; and Topeka. His work included both investigative assignments and teaching law enforcement seminars. He received multiple commendations, especially related to his work on civil rights in Alabama and Louisiana. He treasured personal letters from J. Edgar Hoover and enjoyed telling about his hour meeting with Hoover when he was at an in-service in Washington D.C.

After David retired from the FBI, he began teaching in the Criminal Justice Department at Washburn University and Allen County Community College. He was highly regarded by both students and faculty and was selected Outstanding Professor at Washburn. David's keen sense of humor spilled over in his teaching when he used Honkret Diesley, his imaginary childhood friend, in legal scenarios. Honkret was a major player in the criminal justice system. David loved Washburn and enjoyed taking guests on guided tours of the university. He relished every season and was an avid golfer, hunter, and fisherman. From the time he was a child, he loved to study Lincoln and the Civil War, and he was a member of the Topeka Lincoln Club for several years.

Home and family were very important to David. He was proud of his wife, his children and grandchildren. He also took great pleasure in the many animals he had as a child and as an adult from dogs, cats, to an ornery parakeet. Any animal that needed a home found one at the Buckley's. Squirrels and birds knew when breakfast was served at the Buckley's.

David had a sharp sense of humor and enjoyed teasing and a good joke. He loved the challenge of crossword puzzles. He and Glennie enjoyed traveling around the country as well as Europe and Hawaii. One of his prized mementoes from a trip to Scotland was a piece of turf from the links of St. Andrews. He was a loyal husband, father, and friend. He was a good man, and he will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held at Penwell-Gabel on Saturday, December 18 at 10:00 am. Inurnment will follow at Topeka's Memorial Park Cemetery, 6th and Gage. Contributions may be made to SCARS (Second Chance Animal Rescue Society), Helping Hands, Washburn Law School, or the Topeka Rescue Mission.

The family asks that those in attendance please wear a mask

To leave a message for the family online, please visit the guestbook below.