Funeral service for SFC (Retired) William Marcellus "Bill" Buckler will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, December 1, 2025, in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplin Randy Bolton, Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center Lawton, Oklahoma officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

The family will greet friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral Home.

The service may be viewed by following the live stream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

SFC (Retired) William Marcellus "Bill" Buckler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and proud U.S. Army veteran, passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on June 3, 1936, in Washington, D.C., Bill was the second of six children born to Andrew Thomas and Carrie Jane (Tippett) Buckler. Growing up in Capitol Heights and Forestville, Maryland, he spent his childhood among his four brothers and sister. Although there was a 17-year age span between the six children, family bonds remained strong throughout their lives. Because several relatives shared the name William or Bill, he was affectionately known to many family members as "Marcey".

At just 14 years old, Bill met the love of his life, Maria Elena Rodriguez. Their devotion to one another became a lifelong partnership, and the two were married in 1956. Together, they shared 55 wonderful years until her passing in 2011. They raised two children, William Marcellus Buckler, Jr. and Carrie Jane (Buckler) Mayse, and built a life centered on love, service, and family.

At age 18, Bill enlisted in the United States Army, beginning a distinguished 21-year military career. During his service he earned his GED and trained as a wheeled and tracked vehicle mechanic. His early assignments took him to California, Texas, and two tours in Germany. As the Vietnam era advanced and the Army expanded its aviation maintenance capabilities, Bill was retrained in aircraft maintenance-skills that led to three Vietnam deployments within five years. Despite the hardship and sacrifice of these repeated deployments, he served with unwavering dedication. His commendations include three Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal. He retired honorably from the Army in 1974.

Following his military career, Bill continued to exemplify a strong work ethic. He served as an assistant manager at Hardee's in Lawton before joining the newly opened Goodyear plant in 1977. As a member of its first maintenance class, he trained at Great Plains Vo-Tech while the Goodyear plant was still under construction. Over 21 years with Goodyear, Bill achieved an extraordinary record of Perfect Attendance, retiring for a second time with pride in a job well done.

In retirement, Bill and Maria Elena enjoyed traveling to visit family near and far, and they delighted in searching for antiques. Their trips often included leisurely stops at a favorite casino. Bill had a lifelong love of fishing-especially in Galveston-and enjoyed collecting antiques of all kinds, including collectible glass dinnerware, novelty radios, figurines, and more. When his father visited, the two bonded over their shared passion for restoring antique radios and crank phonographs, bringing old treasures back to life.

Bill was also an enthusiastic supporter of the OU Sooners football and women's softball teams and loved gathering with friends to play cards and dominos.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maria Elena (Rodriguez) Buckler; his parents, Andrew Thomas and Carrie (Tippett) Buckler; his sister, Marietta Ann (Buckler) Silverman; his brothers, Andrew Thomas Buckler Jr. and James Lester Buckler; and his grandson, Stephen Anthony Buckler.

He is survived by his brothers, Lewis Richard Buckler (Shirley) and Ray Dennis Buckler (Ann Marie); his son, William Marcellus Buckler Jr. (Debra Ricks); his daughter, Carrie Jane (Buckler) Mayse; his grandchildren, Brandon Cecil Barrett (Amey) and Carrie Marie (Buckler) Fontenot (Louis Fontenot); and eight great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of service, strength, loyalty, and love.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humane Society of Lawton-Comanche County (PO Box 3134, Lawton, OK 73502-3134), the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center (c/o Pamela Burks, 501 SE Flower Mound Rd, Lawton, OK 73501-must write Veteran's Fund on check memo line), or Complete OK Hospice of Lawton (1 SW 11th Street Suite 120, Lawton, OK 73501).

Bill will be remembered for his steadfast devotion to his family, his honorable service to his country, and the countless ways he quietly and generously enriched the lives of those who knew him.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com