Katherine Beard Buckles

Katherine Beard Buckles of Kingsport, Tennessee and Augusta, Arkansas, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.  She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on October 16, 1929.

After graduating from Laura Conner High School in Augusta, Arkansas, Katherine attended and graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and from the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville with a BA in Social Work. While attending the University of Arkansas, Katherine was a member of Chi Omega sorority.

She met Frank while he was attending dental school in Memphis, Tennessee and they married after his graduation.  They moved to Frank’s home town of Kingsport in 1953.

Katherine was a charter member of the Junior League of Kingsport, she was recognized as a 50 year member of the Long Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was a long time member of the Little House and Garden Club. She was a member of the First District Dental Society Women’s Auxiliary. Katherine and Frank were recognized as a Champion of Youth by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport.

Katherine and Frank worked to grow a family farming business in Woodruff County, Arkansas and in Piney Flats, Tennessee.  In addition to improving the land, participating in conservation efforts, their land produces rice, soybeans, and wheat.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Frank J. Buckles, Jr. D.D S.; her parents, George and Edith Shoffner Beard and her son-in-law, Peter Wadewitz, Jr.

Katherine is survived by her daughter, Edithann Wadewitz and her son, Frank Buckles Wadewitz of Kingsport; two sons, Benjamin Beard Buckles and Karen Zibelin of Knoxville and their children, Nicholas, Madison, and Caden Beard Buckles, and Robert William Buckles and his wife Kate of Gastonia, NC, and their children Mamie Katherine and Sally Kate Buckles; sister-in–law, Ann Buckles Orteig of Williamsburg, VA and her daughter Yvonne Fielden and husband Jay.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 22nd at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 23^rd at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Frye and Rev. Jack Weikel officiating.

The family would like to thank Kathy Fletcher, Trista Capps, Linda Wise, and Julieta Macabalitao of Comfort Keepers and friend Dickie Starke for helping Katherine during her declining health.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holston Home for Children, 404 Holston Dr. Greeneville, TN 37743, Augusta United Methodist Church, 301 South Third Street, Augusta, AR  72006 or to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 36760..