Beatrice Lorraine Buckles died Jan. 31. Beatrice was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts in 1926 to the late John and Helen Rohan. Bea attended school in Massachusetts, graduating from Clark University in Worcester. Bea later moved to New York City, where she worked in the airline industry for Irish Airlines and later Pan Am. It was during that time with the airlines that she met the love of her life, Dan Buckles. Dan and Bea were married in 1948 and lived in Farmingdale, New York. Bea worked for AT&T as a long-distance operator while Dan was working in the clothing industry.
Bea enjoyed many passions including gardening, golfing and was an active member of Ponte Vedra Beach Club where she was a former WGA President. Bea traveled extensively with her husband Dan and later with her sister Rose, enjoying many cruises to exotic destinations. Bea was a longtime parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church and later Our Lady of the Sea. Bea was the treasurer of the BCC&SS social club and a member of the Jacksonville Sister City organization. But Bea loved to dance! Bea and Dan spent many an enjoyable evening together dancing the night away.
Bea’s true passion, however, was her family: first raising her three beautiful daughters and later her grandkids. The grandchildren brought Bea much pride and great joy. Bea is survived by her daughters Eileen and husband Dale Wendell of Ponte Vedra Beach; Cathy Stroud and husband Steve of San Antonio, Texas; and Linda Jacobs of Alpharetta, Georgia; sister Rose Marie of Orlando; brother John Rohan of Tampa Bay; grandchildren Dennis Wendell and wife Chassidy of Neptune Beach; Katie Wendell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Jaclyn Stroud of Austin, Texas; Danny Stroud of Denver; Ann Geoghagan of Tampa Bay; and Ryan Geoghagan of Alpharetta, Georgia.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 in Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Church. Interment followed at Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to Wolfson Children’s Hospital/Cardiac Dept. at www.foundation.baptistjax.com/givenow or McGraw Hospice at www.communityhospice.com. Please visit the online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services were under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach.
