William “Bill” A. Buckalew passed away on Aug. 5, 2019, at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, at the age of 90. He was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sept. 14, 1928.

He graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1946 and then attended Louisiana State University, where he majored in music and played in the Tigerland Band. After graduation, he furthered his education and obtained his master’s degree while still at LSU.

In 1952, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. When he returned to Bogalusa, he became the band director at Bogalusa High School for 25 years (1954-1979). During that time he met and married his wife, Janis Boyd and they had their only child Ann. He also worked at Rayburn Correctional Center for 21 years (1984-2005). In 2005, he retired for a second time to keep his beloved grandson and best friend, Will Culpepper. When you saw PawPaw, Will was always not far behind.

Bill was an avid Saints and LSU fan, and was an active member of Lee’s Creek Baptist Church.

He is survived by his only daughter, Ann and son-in-law Joe Culpepper; his grandsons, Joshua (Megan) Herndon, Michael (Jordan) Culpepper, and Will Culpepper; great-grandsons, Judson Herndon and Braden Culpepper; sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Bobby Lott; and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe and Myra Boyd and Billy and Becky Boyd.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janis Buckalew; his mother, Lessie Buckalew; and brother, Jack Buckalew.

Services for Mr. Buckalew will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home & Crematory in Bogalusa on Saturday, Aug. 10. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until the funeral service begins at 2 p.m. Pastor Keith Sheridan and Pastor Dennis Allen will officiate. Interment will follow at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by Magic City American Legion Post #24.

Serving as pallbearers will be Joshua Herndon, Michael Culpepper, Will Culpepper, Randy Boyd, Buddy Boyd and Ricky Culpepper.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lee’s Creek Baptist Church or the Bogalusa High School Lumberjack Band.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family and friends on the Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home website at www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.