Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Buxton, Roger D. January 18, 2022 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net February 15, 2023, 11:32 am Hasting's Reminder - Sat. January 22, 2022 ROGER D. BUXTON Roger d. Buxton, age 92 was welcomed into the arms of our Lord and Savior on January 18, 2022. Roger was born in Ionia on June 12, 1929, the only child pf Harry and Mabel Buxton. He graduated from Ionia High School in 1946. He attended Michigan State University. Graduating in 1950 with a B.S. degree in vocational education.He taught at Woodland High School during 1950-1951 school year. Roger enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 1951. After four years in the U.S.A.F. he was honorably discharged a Staff Sergeant n 1955 and taught vocational agriculture at the Nashville WK Kellogg High School (now Maple Valley) for one year, returning to Woodland High School in July 1956, where he continued to teach vocational agriculture. He as appointed Woodland School Principle in the spring of 1958When the Woodland and Lake Odessa Schools consolidated, he became principal of the Woodland Junior High. While in Woodland, he met and, in 1958, married the love of his life, Edith Jones of Augusta. Edith was a teacher at Woodland Junior High. In 1977, Roger moved to the central office as Administrative Assistant to then superintendent, William Eckstrom, where he remained until his retirement in June 1990. Roger has a passion for education and earned his M.A. degree in vocational education from Michigan State University in 1956. He also did graduate work at Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Colorado A & M and Rutgers University. He was a long-time member of Lakewood United Methodist Church and was attending Kilpatrick United Brethren Church in recent years.He was a life member of the Hastings Lodge #52, F & AM, and a past member and president of the Woodland Lions Club. He also served several years on the Carlton Township Board of Review and on the Barry County LOVE, Inc. board of directors. He alway had a keen interest in music, playing clarinet in high school band and Saxophone in the high school dance band, later forming his own band during the mid-40s and continued with the band into the 1950s. His passion for music led him to being an instrumental part of forming the Woodland Gospel Singers, known later as the Woodland Gospel Quartet, for whom he played keyboard, and sang for nearly 25 years, presenting 40-50 programs annually throughout Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. In 1992, he was presented the Michigan Gospel Music Association's Distinguished Service Award. In 1993 he was inducted into the Michigan Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The only thing he cherished more than music was his family. He always put their needs ahead of his own. He had such a gentle, loving way and spent many years as the family taxi, driving his grandchildren to events, school and of course McDonalds. He supported the family's love of horses and served as family camp manager, making meals, and helping his family with a all their preparations with the horses. At age 92, he was still able to use his computer, send emails and even test on his iPhone! Roger will be dearly missed by his surviving family; wife, Edith; daughter, Anne (Chris) Leighty; grandchildren, Erica Chris0 Watts, Andrew (Elizabeth) Leighty, Josh (Brenda) Leighty, Leah Meehan and Taylor Meehan. He had the honor of even meeting his great-grandchildren; Austin, Olivia, Nala, Madelyn, and MacKenzie. At Roger's request, cremation will take place. A Celebration of Life will take place on February 27, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Kilpatrick United Brethren church, 10005 E.Barnum Rd., Woodland,MI. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/buxton45049nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb