MONTGOMERY – Richard John Buikus, 85, passed away at his home in Montgomery on February 28th, 2024.
Dick was born in Westfield the only child of John and Grace (Miller) Buikus. He is survived by his wife Anne-Marie (St. Jean), daughters Bridget of Ware and Leslie (Don) Simons of Sebastian, FL, and son John (Darleen) of Montgomery, twelve grand children and numerous great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a daughter Jean-Anne.
After attending local schools, he enlisted in the Marine Corps serving time in Japan and various bases in the states including Twenty-Nine Palms in CA.
He was employed at Westfield River Paper for over twenty years as a beater engineer. After the mill closed, he attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi earning a dual magnum cum laude degree in Refrigeration/Air Conditioning and Building Maintenance. He retired as a building supervisor for Pynchon Apartments in Springfield.
While living in Texas he earned his private pilot license and spent weekends flying to the beach in his own taildragger.
After retirement he and Annie travelled to all forty-eight contiguous states visiting friends and family. They spent time in Canada, England and finding and visiting relatives in Ireland. After researching his ancestry, he was proud to join the SAR in 2007 and helping others as the Registrar with the local chapter. The last years they spent enjoying bluegrass festivals in Vermont and New York in their RV.
Services will be private and to the convenience of the family. The burial will be in the Montgomery Center Cemetery.
