Ora Annette (Fuller) Buckendorf

Obituary

Class of 1947

Apr. 6, 1928 – Oct. 5, 2018

Buhl — Ora Annette (Fuller) Buckendorf was born April 6, 1928, in Anthony, Florida. Her parents were Clara Otha (Annesley) Fuller and Robert A. Fuller. The family then moved to Georgia where Anette’s father worked mostly as a deliveryman and briefly for the Union Pacific Railroad during WWI. Her mother worked as a housekeeper, laundress, and later as a head cook at the Weiser hospital.

In 1935, the family moved to Weiser, Idaho, where her father’s parents (John and Anna Powell Fuller) lived. There her brother Eugene was born. Annette graduated from Weiser High School in 1947. That fall, she attended Northwest Christian College and met Glen W. Buckendorf of Buhl there. They eloped and were married in Kelso, Washington, in June 1948. The couple settled in Buhl, Idaho, where Glen worked for his family’s fuel and feed business.

While Glen managed the Buckendorf Fuel and Feed Service, Annette worked hard at home, helping to milk the dairy cows and giving loving care to their six children. She also briefly worked as a waitress in a local restaurant.

In 1969, Annette completed her master’s degree in English with a secondary education emphasis. She taught for 23 years at Buhl Junior High School and retired in 2001. She was an active member of the Buhl Christian Church and the Community Christian Church in Filer. Annette also volunteered her time at several retirement homes, playing the piano for residents. She enjoyed traveling with Glen to his many chess tournaments and played Bridge, Scrabble, and other games with the “chess widows.” Annette was the first Idahoan to receive the Honorary Chess Mates Award, given by the United States Chess Federation.

After Glen died in 2011, Annette led several Bible studies in her home and enjoyed her friends at the Moon Villa Village in Buhl. She suffered a stroke in 2013 and could no longer live on her own. Each of her children and several grandchildren took turns caring for her in their homes, where she enjoyed embroidering, quilting, and doing 1000-piece puzzles. Annette passed away peacefully on September 24, 2023, surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her children: Bill (Madeline) Buckendorf of Caldwell, Harry (Mary) Buckendorf of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ben (Paula) Buckendorf of Boise, Idaho, Bart (Ronda) Buckendorf of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Betty (George) Wyant of Shoshone, Idaho. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Patricia Buckendorf and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10, at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

From The Times-News – Monday, October 08, 2018