Dennis Lynn Buck

Dennis Lynn Buck, age 65, of Mechanicsburg, died on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Dennis was born on Sunday, November 2, 1958, in Webster Springs, WV to the late Charles LeRoy Buck Jr and Arthela Pearl (Cowger) Buck.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 13 years, Lisa Renee Bankert-Buck; his three children: Brian Buck of Mechanicsburg, PA, Rachel (Buck) Spurling and her husband David of Camp Lejeune, NC, Denise (Buck) Hubbert and her husband Eric of Port Trevorton, PA; his seven grandchildren: Kendra Lindsay, Trenton Buck, Adalynn Hubbert, Curtis Spurling, David Spurling, Elliott Hubbert, Chase Hubbert; his four brothers: David L. Buck Sr. of Martinsburg, WV, Daniel (Danny) L. Buck and his wife Yvonne of Huntsville, AL, Donald L. Buck and his wife Norma of Knoxville, TN, Douglas L. Buck and his wife Sandie of Hillsboro, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dennis was a faithful man of God who wholeheartedly loved his family, friends and co-workers. He was the epitome of selflessness, giving more than anyone else many times over with unfailing generosity and love.

He graduated from Webster County High School, top 10 in his class, and a member of the Honor Society. He excelled in every sport he played, especially loving football, wrestling, and track. He immediately enlisted in the United States Army in 1977 at 19 years old.

• A proud Army Veteran, Dennis served 20+ years under the 3rd Squadron, 7th Division US Calvary. He received his Business Administration Degree from the University of Maryland while serving. His primary specialist assignment was  Armor Senior Sergeant in the 1/67 Armor in Fort Hood, Texas.  Dennis was also a former M1 Armor crewman and United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Master Gunner, and Armor Operation NCOIC at 7th Army Training Command. Dennis was the published author of the Training Manual at Fort Knox, KY for the M1A1 General Abram’s Tank, the main tank used in the US Army. He was deemed “too valuable to deploy” for his knowledge and expertise over the M1 Abram’s. Dennis served three tours overseas with his family in Bremerhaven and Grafenwöhr, Germany. He held  an honorable position as the Senior Advisor to the (USAREUR-AF) Commander General for the Abram’s Tank, flying from Europe to the US to assist with the manufacturing and details. 
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• Dennis had earned numerous decorations, medals, badges and ribbons.  Most notable were the following prestigious and honorable medals: (5) MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS, (6) ARMY COMMENDATION MEDALS, and (4) ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS. Dennis also earned the following; (6) Army Good Conduct, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Retired lapel button,  (3) Overseas service ribbons,  and the rifle, pistol, grenade Expert ribbon. 
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• After driving tanks and blowing up things for a living, Dennis retired honorably, as 1SG in 1997.  He dedicated his life to his fellow brothers in arms. He was known as 'Big Top', with his initiative, devotion to duty, and endless energy. He was someone everyone respected and looked up to. Even after retirement, Dennis was always seen volunteering his time and heart to various organizations honoring fellow veterans. 
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After serving a full military career, “Bucky” decided to take a job at a cabinet factory and move his family one last time to  Pennsylvania, where he worked for 20 years at WoodMode Custom Cabinetry.  Most of his days and nights were dedicated to the factory floor and his employees as Final Assembly Plant Manager. He left Woodmode when they closed their doors and went on to work at St Martin America Cabinet Company, where he started an entire 2nd shift utilizing his previous Wood Mode employees who had also lost their jobs. He coordinated shuttling employees from Selinsgrove to Pottsville to make sure they could clock in on time. Due to health reasons, he took a short break from employment, but quickly found himself managing another plant at American Bath Group / Aquatics Bath in Elizabethtown. His energy never wavered. In his spare time, Dennis spent 6 years leading the prop crew with his innovations and creativity for the Mechanicsburg High School Marching Band and Cadets 2 Drum & Bugle Corps. The band and Cadets 2 went on to win multiple state and national awards. No one could ever match his strong-willed pace. Even battling cancer, he was helping remodel houses, chopping down trees, or making another “quick” road trip to take care of his WV home. Dennis was always helping someone or visiting his beloved mother and brothers across the country. In the rare chance you caught Dennis sitting, he was attending ball games and rooting on his beloved N.Y. Yankees, N.Y. Jets, and those darn Dallas Cowboys.

Dennis never quit. 

 Though his battle with multiple cancer diagnoses was arduous, he continued working a part-time job at Merchology in Mechanicsburg. It wasn't necessarily the work that got him up every morning, but rather his boss and co-workers who brought their own faith-filled lives to the operations floor. Knowing he was surrounded by other believers provided him encouragement, spirit uplifting, and peace throughout each day. 

A man’s man. A hero. A helper. A doer. Dog lover. Foodie. Motorcyclist. Dennis was the dad with the best dad jokes. Dennis always squeezed in time with his kids, grandkids and his brothers, all spread across the East coast. He would drive 4 hours to visit for 20 minutes. “family is all we have” he was often heard saying. 

The greatest life experience Dennis taught us all was to never stop doing things with those you love, and even greater than that is always giving more than you take. Maybe just don’t do it at 120mph...85 is ok. 

All are welcome to join Dennis’ family at his funeral service on Monday, July 29, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA 17003. Pastor(s) from Dennis' home church Christian Life Assembly will officiate. Guests are encouraged to arrive to the cemetery between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. to follow the procession to the service location. Dennis’ family invites everyone to join them for a Celebration of Life open house and gathering of family and friends following the service from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a time of remembrance at 3:00 p.m. at Buhrig’s Gathering Place, 25 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, (717) 766-3421 (next to Buhrig Funeral & Cremation). Over 100 parking spaces are available; just look for the “Buhrig” parking signs in all of the parking lots.

A final lay to rest will be held at Dennis’ homestead in Bergoo, WV on September 1, 2024. 

Contributions in celebration of Dennis’ life can be made to Out of the Trenches or Missions 10 at Christian Life Assembly, 2645 Lisburn Rd, Camp Hill, PA 17011, https://clacamphill.com/give or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306, https://dogood.t2t.org/give/320847/. 

Dennis’ family has entrusted his care to Buhrig Funeral & Cremation in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421. Read Dennis’ obituary, view HIS/HER memorial video, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign his official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.