Every Saturday, Charles came to Prairie Lights bookstore, where I work. Saturdays that he didn't come in were usually because of football game or downtown event parking issues, the occasional elderhostel trip, military reunion, or rarely, a small ailment that kept him home. It was fun to talk about books with him. He often ordered books he'd seen on C-SPAN Book TV (which he recommended), or read about in a newspaper or magazine. He really liked books on history. He was excited about the latest installment of Robert Caro's Lyndon Johnson biography that came out in May. Charles came to a reading this spring given by a WW2 veteran who had been in one of the same battles he had. In addition to the books that satisfied his curiosity about historical events, Charles was also keen on police procedural mysteries. He said he alternated reading the mysteries with the nonfiction he was working on. It was difficult to keep ahead of him on mystery authors, though, because he'd read so many.

Charles had a wonderful, quiet kindness. He always took the time to say hello to each of us that he knew, and ask how everybody was. He even asked after my cats, because one time I'd mentioned them. One Saturday a few months ago, he was having trouble with his knees. I heard him kind of shuffling his feet over by the mysteries and went over to see if he was okay, and he said, "Oh, my knees are just giving me some trouble." When I offered to help him sit down, he said, "No, I'm afraid then I won't be able to get up. Just give me a minute." So we talked about something else for awhile until he felt better. When I asked if he wanted anyone to walk with him to his car, he said, "No.... I'll be all right now. Sometimes it helps just to have somebody nice talk to you for a little while."

I hope Mr. Buckley knew how much we all liked him. He was often that "somebody nice to talk to for a little while" for us.

We wish we could be with all of Uncle Sonny's family to help celebrate his well lived life. We know that he brought many happy times and memories to all of your lives as he did to ours. Uncle Sonny was always a novelty for us because he was often away, often in countries we had to find on the globe. But he never forgot us, packages would arrive for us with panchos from Spain or dolls from Thailand, always a big event for little girls! Uncle Sonny was as generous to our mother Nancy, I can remember brightly colored telephones coming in the mail (back when you plugged them in the wall! Visiting with Grammie Buckley, there similar displays of his generousity. Grammie had art work that Uncle Sonny sent her on the wall and also on her living room tables.

We have memories of Uncle Sonny in his uniform, smoking his pipe, his cards and updates of his yearly travels with Aunt Barb .... all of a man who was one of a kind.

Our deepest sympathy for your loss. His charm and kindness will be greatly missed in the neighborhood.