Little League® International mourns the passing of Virginia Buckelew, former Little League volunteer Assistant District Administrator, and the wife of retired Texas District 19 Administrator and Texas State Coordinator, Richard Buckelew. She was 79.
Mrs. Buckelew was a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. She spent her early childhood in the Texas communities of Three Rivers and George West, before settling in San Antonio.
A 1959 graduate of Sam Houston High School, she married Mr. Buckelew in 1960. For a time, the couple lived in Washington, D.C., while Mr. Buckelew served in the U.S. Army. The Buckelews started a family soon after relocating to San Antonio following the completion of Mr. Buckelew’s military service. Professionally, Mrs. Buckelew spent several years as a Claims Processor for the USAA Insurance Company.
The Buckelews began their volunteer service to the Little League program in support of their children. Both provided countless hours on the local, district, and state levels. Mr. Buckelew served as Texas District 19 Administrator from 1984 until 2018, and Mrs. Buckelew as Assistant District 19 Administrator for each of those years. Among their many contributions was hosting the 1998 Little League International Congress held in their adopted home city of San Antonio.
“Beyond her devotion to her family and the Little League program, she was one of the finest people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in all my years here,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League International’s President and CEO. “Virginia and Richard were certainly a team. It is doubtful that the 1998 Congress would have been near the success it was without her.”
Through the years, the Buckelews made several trips to the Little League Southwest Regional Center in Waco, Texas; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League Baseball World Series. Mrs. Buckelew was a fixture at Little League International functions, while her husband served a three-year term as a member of the Little League International Board of Directors.
“Virginia was a selfless woman, and a dedicated wife and mother,” said Mr. Keener. “We’ll miss her dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and many, many friends.”
Mrs. Buckelew is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard; sons, Richard and James; daughter, Elizabeth; sister, Barbara; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her parents, Loma and Elmon Rees, and two sisters, LaVerne Hanks and Loma Smith.