Janice E. Buckingham, 86, of Myerstown, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at the WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon.
She was the wife of Major Robert E. (Bob) Buckingham Sr., who entered into glory on Jan. 4, 2014. They were married for 52 1/2 years.
Born in Nettle Hill, PA, on May 27, 1938, she was the cherished daughter of the late Luke and Ferne (Connor) Lemmon.
Janice was a 1955 graduate of Waynesburg High School. She entered the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing in West Virginia, where she earned a Registered Nurse certification. She joined the U.S. Air Force, where she attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. While serving her country, she met and married Bob. She received an honorable discharge when she became pregnant. Years later, she went back to college and earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Lebanon Valley College in 1981.
Janice was employed by the Veterans Administration, working in many different hospitals before settling in Lebanon County in 1979. Janice worked in the psychiatric unit of the Lebanon VA Hospital, retiring in 2003. After retiring, she worked part-time at StoneRidge Poplar Run.
Janice was a member of Myerstown Baptist Church and the Quittapahilla Audubon Society, and she was active with the Woolwright’s Rug Hooking Guild. She was a Penn State Master Gardener and a 2020 Inductee into the Lebanon County Commission for Women’s Hall of Fame. Janice and a couple of friends started the Eastern Lebanon County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Support Group. She also enjoyed swimming at the YMCA, birdwatching, gardening, crocheting, writing, reading, praying, and studying her Bible.
She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Buckingham and Elisabeth Putt (wife of Erin Putt); son, Robert (husband of Andrea); grandchildren, Austin, Connor, and Olivia Buckingham, Eva Putt and Elias Putt; great-grandchildren, Damon and Jaxon Buckingham; and many nieces and nephews.
Janice was preceded in death by her brother, Marvin Lemmon; and daughter-in-law, Donna (Boyer) Buckingham.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Grose Funeral Home, 358 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, preceded by a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. A visitation will also be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, from 6-8 p.m., at the funeral home. Inurnment with full military honors will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc.-Greater PA Chpt., 2595 Interstate Dr., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110; or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.
Please visit GroseFH.com to share a memory you have of Janice. Her family loves hearing stories about her and learning how people remember her.
