William E. Buxton's Obituary
William Edgar Buxton, January 6, 1918 – January 31, 2010. Bill Buxton, a life long resident of Memphis, passed away at the age of 92, in Tacoma, Washington, where he resided near his family for the past three years. He passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, surrounded by his beloved daughters, his granddaughter and other family members. Bill was proceeded in death by his parents, Edgar Eugene Buxton and Gertrude Stewart Buxton, and his three siblings, Eugenia Buxton, Stewart Buxton and Betty Smith Stevenson. Bill graduated from the Culver Military Academy in 1936, and from Washington & Lee University in 1940. Shortly thereafter he attended the Army Air Corps flying school, graduating as a Second Lieutenant in May 1941. Bill served honorably and proudly during World War II as a fighter pilot, flying the famed P-51D Mustang, and attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. He served overseas for 44 months, flying 5000 hours, much of that in combat. He was the Squadron Commander for 50 P-51 Mustang pilots in the 2nd Air Commando Group in the China-Burma-India Theater stationed in Cox’s Bazaar, India. Lt. Col. Buxton helped lead one of the longest, U.S. fighter missions of WWII, at 1500 miles roundtrip. The 2nd Air Commando Group’s two squadron raid on the Japanese Air Force at Don Muang Airfield, north of Bangkok, won the unit a Distinguished Unit Citation. Lt. Col. Buxton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and two Purple Hearts. After his discharge from the Air Corp after the War, he served in the Reserves for five years. After military service, he became a stock and commodities broker with E. E. Buxton & Co., and in 1957 he was a General Partner of Mitchell, Hutchins & Co., a New York Stock Exchange firm. Bill Buxton was a former member of the Chicago Board of Trade, The Memphis Country Club, The Memphis Hunt & Polo Club, The St. Petersburg Yacht Club, The Memphis Trap & Skeet Club, and the Second Presbyterian Church, in Memphis, Tennessee. Bill was the former President of Trap & Skeet Club. He was skeet champion of Tennessee, also skeet champion of Tri-State (Tennessee, Arkansas & Mississippi). Later on he entered the National Skeet (20guage) competition in Dallas, Texas, and tied with another contestant for second place, shooting 99 of 100 clays in succession, with a borrowed gun. He is survived by his wife, Laura S. Buxton, of Memphis, his son, Robert Buxton of New York City, his daughter Lucy B. Geppert and son in law, Bob Geppert of Tacoma, Washington, who cared for him in his later years, his daughter Mary M. Buxton and son in law Ron Hess of Monte Sereno, CA, and his five grandchildren, Hannah & Jesse Duarte, Nicky & Henry Buxton, and Will Hess. His family was blessed to have him live with them and near them for the past three years. Funeral services will be held at the Memphis Memorial Park on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 at 1 PM with a viewing one hour prior to the service. There will be a reception following the service. Please call or visit www.memphismemorialpark.com for details. We would like to thank Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community for all their loving and gentle care for our dad, Bill Buxton. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community Employee Scholarship Fund would be appreciated. Please send to Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community Foudation, 1301 N. Highlands Parkway, Tacoma, WA 98406
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