Donald R. Buckthal

The Rev. Dr. Donald R. Buckthal, age 96, died peacefully in Carmel, IN on
May 28. Dr. Buckthal was born on December 26, 1924 to John & Emma
Buckthal, farmers, in Freelandville, IN. He was the youngest of 7
children.
Dr. Buckthal received his B.A degree from Elmhurst College, a Master of
Divinity from Eden Seminary in St. Louis and a D. Min. from Christian
Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. In 1988 Eden Seminary granted
him an honorary Doctorate of Divinity.
Dr. Buckthal pastored two rural parishes, St. Peter’s and Trinity United
Churches of Christ, in Lamar and Fulda, IN respectively from 1948 to
1956. He served as pastor of Lynnhurst United Church of Christ in
Louisville, KY from 1956 to 1970. From 1970 until his retirement in
1991 he served as Associate Conference Minister for the Indiana-KY
Conference of the UCC in Indianapolis. During this time he drove an
average of 50,000 miles per year to visit congregations throughout
Indiana and KY, and he preached guest sermons in all 200 churches in
the conference. He was known to all in the conference as the “pastor to
pastors.” Following his retirement he served as interim pastor of 3
separate congregations.
While at his pastorate in Louisville Dr. Buckthal also served as a
volunteer chaplain for the Fire Department and chaired the board of the
Brooklawn Children’s Home. He served for many years on the board of
United Church Homes, which owned numerous retirement
communities. He served on many other church and community boards
and committees as well.
Dr. Buckthal was married for 73 years to his wife, Ruth, who survives
him and to whom he was deeply devoted. He was preceded in death by
his beloved son, David, and daughter in law, Anne, and is survived by his
daughter Diana Winston (Allan) and son Paul (Nancy) as well as his
grandchildren Jill Buckthal-McCuin (Brandon), Josh Winston (Cindy),
Julia Honold (Justin), Eric Buckthal (Tiffany) and Craig Buckthal (Ana)
as well as 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial gift to Eden Theological Seminary https://www.eden.edu/,
Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis https://www.fpgi.org/,
or the Indy Humane https://indyhumane.org
would be a fitting tribute to Dr. Buckthal’s life of service.
A memorial celebration will be held in the summer.