BUCKLER

ROBERT W. "BOB"

Robert W. "Bob" Buckler, longtime resident of Shaler Township, passed peacefully Thursday, January 29, 2026, at age 101.

Husband of the late Imelda Yeager Buckler. Father of Robert R. (Partner Thomas Perna), Jack W. (Janet Rose Sauer Buckler), and Judy Buckler (Joe Roadarmel). Grandfather of Christie, Colleen, Marlene, and Robert. Also, 4 great-grandchildren. Son of the late William H. and Annabell Cummings Buckler. Brother of the late Clara Bowen (late James H. Bowen).

As an 18-year-old, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in October 1942. He served as a World War II Tail Gunner on the B17 bomber "Glory Girl" flying out of the U.S. air base in Knettishall, Suffolk, England with the 388th Bomb Group. In 1944, on his 23rd mission his plane was shot down on its return and limped to a landing in neutral Sweden where he was interned until the end of that year. On his return home he got married to Imelda and began his career as a fire protection engineer.

Throughout his married life he and Imelda raised their three children with most summer weekends spent at their Geneva-on-the-Lake cottage. After the children were raised, they enjoyed traveling, which included living in their Coleman pop-up camper at many PA campgrounds.

He was an active hunter and fisherman. This included many trips with his fishing buddies to rivers west of the Rockies and Northern Canada.

As a Charter member of Shaler Township VFW 9199 he served as an officer, including that of Commander. He was also active in the Veterans Breakfast Club where he often had the opportunity to tell his WWII stories.

He was a long-standing member of the Masons and Shriners. During his last years he became quite a celebrity as one of the few living members of the "Greatest Generation". As such he was the subject of countless oral history interviews by historians and scholars both from the U.S. and internationally.

Interment and a Celebration of Life will be at a later date.

Memorial tributes may be sent to Veterans Breakfast Club at 200 Magnolia Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15228.

Arrangements entrusted to NEELY FUNERAL HOME, please visit us at neelyfuneralhome.com.