Norma J. Buckingham

Norma J. Buckingham, 88, of Burbank, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 after a period of declining health.  Norma was an amazing woman, a Burbank icon who touched many lives and influenced both young and old.  She will be greatly missed.

Norma was born Dec. 5, 1932 in Golden Corners near Burbank to the late Grover and Marian (Ewing) Maxwell and was a 1950 graduate of Burbank High School where she was a cheerleader and a member of the 1st Girls Basketball Team that was organized in Burbank.  It was in 1950 that she married Larry J. Buckingham and he preceded her in death in 1972.  Norma retired from Rubbermaid, Inc. in 1987 with over 30 years of services and had made her home in Burbank all of her life.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church where she had been a youth leader.  Norma coached Little League Baseball in Burbank for over 40 years until she was age 70 having coached her own sons and grandson and hundreds of other boys.  She was a mentor to many young people and was always proud of each player, making sure that every boy had an opportunity to play.  She was a hard working woman, who loved caring for her home, her yard and was one that truly cared for others.  Norma Buckingham will be remembered as a Burbank legend who was truly one of a kind.

Surviving are her children and their spouses, Bill and Chris Buckingham of Burbank, Deb and Jerry Hall of West Salem, Jack and Brenda Buckingham of Burbank and Craig and Liane Buckingham of Columbus; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, Mark Buckingham, Tosh (Laura) Buckingham and children Ridge and Remi, Sandy (Jason) Wiles and children Allison,Morgan, Caleb and Gavin.  Mike (Pam) Haley and children Sammi and Charlie, Ashley (Jake) Bresson and children, Micah and Lydia, Brad (Tara) Haley and children, Taylor and Jake, Jamie (Gary) Sharp and children, Austin and Adam, Heidi (Cody) Summers and daughter Ruby, Hayes (Cindy) Buckingham and soon to arrive son Lane; Hayley (Luke) Hawk, Joshua Buckingham and Kaitlynn (Jeff) Romanello and daughter Audrey; sister, Carolyn Leedy of Wooster; in-laws, Janet Maxwell, Sandy Maxwell and Ray Buckingham  and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, son-in-law, Steve Haley and brothers and sister, Chuck (Betty) Maxwell, Bill (Bessie) Maxwell, Richard Maxwell, George Maxwell, Janice Buckingham, Ellen Stull and Mary Brenneman.

Family services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 12th at 1:00 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Creston and can be viewed later through the funeral home website under Norma’s obituary tribute page.  Friends may call Monday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home and the family requests that everyone wear a mask.    Burial will be in Burbank Cemetery.  Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com  Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity or Faith United Methodist Churches in Burbank.  The family extends their sincere thanks to the staff of Burbank Parke for the wonderful care given to Norma. 

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