Kenneth "Bucky" Newton 's Obituary
Kenneth “Bucky” Newton peacefully passed away March 14, 2016, at the age of 70. He was surrounded by the love of his family. Bucky was born in Moultrie, GA to Isaac Lamar and Clydie Hall Newton.
Bucky joined the 3rd Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps in 1965 and served his country proudly during two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. Earning the rank of Sergeant, Bucky was also awarded Rifle M-14 Marksmanship Badge, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60, Vietnam Service Medal w/4*, Naval Unit Citation, and Combat Action Ribbon.
After leaving the service with distinctions, he married his loving wife Janie Cole on December 19, 1969.After several years of marriage, Bucky and Janie started a family with the adoption of their first daughter, Suzanne Newton Phillips (John), in 1976 and a year later had their youngest daughter, Julie Newton Allen (Wes).
Bucky was a very active and devoted father who came to every sporting event or performance, carved pumpkins every Halloween for the girls’ classrooms, built science fair projects, created Olympic flames for Clarkdale Elementary, participated in history events and taught them countless skills and lessons. The P.E. department at Clarkdale Elementary, where is wife Janie worked, was an elite program that all the children still remember fondly with the help of Bucky’s ability to make dreams a reality. Through his ingenuity and creativity, Bucky inspired his daughters to become an engineer and an artist.
As a Girl Scout Troop Leader, Bucky taught his daughters and countless other girls how to be courageous, creative, and respectful through the life lessons and stories he loved to impart. His troop knew how to tie a proper knot, start a fire, sharpen a knife, sing “Rooty Toot Toot” and “The Monkeys have No Tails in Pango Pango” and march in time to the Marine Corps Hymn.
Bucky took great pride in his six cherished grandchildren, Jared, Kelsey, Aaron, Sarah, and Katie Phillips and Kelcey Cole, and loved spending every moment he could with them. Often you could find him and a handful of grandkids at the shooting range, working on the Army truck, or watching cartoons together, not to mention track meets, lacrosse matches, soccer, volleyball, basketball and hockey games.
All family was very important to Bucky. He is often revered as a brother, not a brother-in-law, or a son, not a son-in law, because of the relationships that were built from his commitment to his family. Bucky’s many nieces and nephews, as well as others he impacted along the way, look to Bucky as a second dad and admire him for his ability to make others always feel loved and accepted.
Known as a creative builder, Bucky delighted in making interesting structures for the kids to play on including a bunker, tree fort, zip line and a pirate ship. Bucky’s backyard was always a child’s paradise, as he never lost his spark of playfulness and fun.
As a proud Marine veteran, Bucky freely shared his war experiences with friends, family, co-workers, and unsuspecting Home Depot customers.
He enjoyed 46 years of a loving marriage to Janie that resulted in an adoring family filled with the deepest unconditional love and dedication.
Bucky was a scholar of history, a mentor and teacher, a loving husband and father and a compassionate man who profusely influenced the lives of all he met.
Bucky is survived by his wife, Janie Cole Newton of Powder Springs; daughter, Suzanne (John) Phillips of Powder Springs; daughter, Julie (Wes) Allen of Austell; sister, Janice Thurmond of Marietta; brother, Carl Newton of York, South Carolina. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jared Phillips; Kelsey Phillips; Aaron Phillips; Sarah Phillips; Katie Phillips; Kelcey Cole.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, 2:00 PM at Davis- Struempf Funeral Home Chapel with Jeffrey Grable officiating. Interment will follow the Service at Old Powder Springs City Cemetery behind City Hall. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Davis- Struempf Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tommy’s Holiday Fund.www.tommysholidayfund.org
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