Phillip A. Buck

Pendleton – Phil Buck, 90, passed away on August 17, 2018 after an extended illness. He was born July 13, 1928 in Frankfort, Indiana, the son of Robert and Reva (Griffin) Buck. Phil took great pride in growing up in Indiana on the family’s farm in Clinton County. He graduated in 1947 from Rossville High School, where he played basketball and was Captain of the 1947 Indiana All-Star team. He graduated from Indiana University in 1951, where he played basketball for four years under the direction of legendary Coach Branch McCracken. Phil started his teaching and coaching career at Flora High School in 1951. After one year at Flora, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. After returning from the service, he returned to Indiana University to earn his master’s degree and was the freshman and assistant basketball coach for Coach McCracken. After one year as assistant coach at I.U., he decided to return to his home town of Rossville as a teacher and varsity basketball coach. Upon the completion of six successful seasons at Rossville, he taught and coached at Frankfort High School from 1961-1966. In 1966 he accepted the position of varsity basketball coach at Madison Heights High School in Anderson, IN. He coached at Madison Heights for twenty four years, winning nine sectionals, four regionals, and one semi-state. Coach Buck was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. Following his retirement, Phil and his wife of sixty eight years, Norma Jean, have lived in the Pendleton area where they have enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved working in his yard when he wasn’t watching competitive sports. He especially enjoyed following high school and college basketball as well as high school, college, and professional football. He was a member of the Pendleton First United Methodist Church, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Retired Teachers Association, Past President of the Indiana High School Coaches Association, Disabled American Veterans Association, Rossville Lodge No. 318, F. & A.M., and American Legion Post 127. Phil is survived his wife Norma Jean (Gaylor) Buck, whom he married on April 6, 1950; sons, Larry (Vicki) Buck and Joe (Connie) Buck of Pendleton; grand-children, Keri (Craig) Brunnemer, Morgan (Sean) Rooney, Megan (Mike) Bouvat, and Whitney Buck; great-grand-children, Madison, Payton, and Hailee Brunnemer, Maddox and Elliot Rooney, and Michael and Max Bouvat; twin sister, Phyllis Kamstra of Rossville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Reva (Griffin) Buck and sister Joyce Ann (Buck) Kuszmaul White. Funeral service will be 12:00 P.M. Thursday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory with Pastors Doug Walker and Bud Probasco officiating. Burial will be in Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home with a Masonic Memorial Service at 7:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s charity of choice.