William J. "Bucky" Buchholtz (1939-2005)
BUCHHOLTZ, PURVIS, GRABAU, MARSHALL
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 9/27/2005 at 17:20:42
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, September 27, 2005.
William J. Buchholtz, Capt., USN (Ret) and long-time Austin, Texas, dentist, went to be with his heavenly father on Saturday, Sept. 24. Born April 19, 1939, in Ames to Walter and Ruth Buchholtz, he graduated from the University of Iowa Dental School in 1964, where he met and married Bonnie Purvis, the love of his life. He immediately entered the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and was selected for a coveted oral surgery internship at Great Lakes Hospital plus a comprehensive dentistry residency in family dentistry at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. He was subsequently selected for a post-doctoral program in oral biology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
While serving his country for 20 years, he and his family lived in Vietnam, Japan, Ponape, Scotland, Guam and Texas. He achieved the distinguished rank of Captain (0-6) before retiring to Austin in 1984 where he opened Family Dental Care in Westlake and became an active member of the community as a Rotarian. He was passionate about barbershop quartet singing, which he began more than 20 years ago and was an enthusiastic member of the SPEBSQSA barbershop society (Austin Chord Rangers). He shared his beautiful baritone voice in the Hyde Park Baptist Church Exaltation Choir and impacted many young lives while serving in the 10th grade Sunday School department as an outreach leader.
He read avidly, particularly on topics covering God, politics, military and even made sure to inquire as to what makes men from Mars and women from Venus. He was genuine and pure of heart. He was an honorable man whose model life was devoted to his Lord, his adoring wife and best friend Bonnie, and his children, both his own and those who adopted him. In addition to multiple business ventures, his life was invested in people and in quietly serving those around him. This is the legacy he passes to those he touched.
Everybody who knew Bucky loved him. His non-judgmental, accepting spirit made anyone feel at ease. He was Dad to more than just his own children, welcoming every person into his home and heart. He loved his family and friends easily and sincerely, making it a daily priority to stay a part of their lives. This structured military man would drop anything, anytime, anywhere, to give, to serve, to love.
He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years Bonnie, and his children, Ross and Patricia of Austin, Scott of Houston and Laura of Austin. He is also survived by his mother, Ruth Buchholtz of Ames; one brother Dr. Tom Buchholtz of Hilton Head, S.C., and two sisters, Margaret Grabau of Minneapolis and Kay Marshall of Colorado Springs.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Weed Corley-Fish. Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 28, at Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway in Austin, Texas. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday Sept. 30, at Shiloh Cemetery in Wellsburg, with full military rites provided by the Wellsburg AMVETS Post No. 91 and the American Legion Post No. 213.
The family requests that instead of flowers, memorials be sent to the Hyde Park Music Ministry, Attn Kay Humphreys, 3901 Speedway, Austin, TX, 78751; or the Austin Chord Rangers, Bill Buchholtz Scholarship fund, PO Box 181075, Austin, TX, 78718-1075.
As his eldest son says, "Dad was sort of magic." For many, Bill was a giant umbrella that covered and sheltered. His earthly example was a human portrait of our Heavenly Father.
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you'll find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4
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