Lois Mae Buckingham

June 26, 1927 - January 30, 2020

Mineral Point - Lois M. Buckingham, age 92, of Mineral Point, died on January 30, 2020 at Upland Hills Health Hospital in Dodgeville, surrounded by her family and holding her loving husband's hand, from complications following two major surgeries in November 2019 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. She was born on June 26, 1927 to Lawrence R. and Elsie M. (Jewell) Whitford at the home of her maternal grandparents in rural Edmund. She attended Jonesdale Elementary School, graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1945, and attended the Harper Method Beauty School in Madison. Lois married William L. 'Bill' Buckingham of Mineral Point on April 19, 1947 at the First United Methodist Church in Mineral Point, and they were married for over 72 years. During their early married life, they lived in Chicago and Mt. Horeb but moved to Mineral Point in 1951 where they continued to reside. Lois worked as a beautician earlier in her life and then served over 20 years as a tour guide at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Pendarvis site in Mineral Point. Lois enjoyed camping trips with her family in their pop-up camper, visiting family across the U.S., and her several trips to England and Scotland traveling with or visiting family and researching her U.K. genealogy. She was a lover of flowers, a beautiful seamstress, and a wonderful cook who never attended a family gathering without bringing something from her kitchen - family favorites included "tookies", pumpkin bars, and banana cake. Her Cornish pasties and fruit pies were always beautifully crimped! She was an affectionate and proud wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Lois was a member of the Greysville Homemakers Club, Eastern Star, American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries, and an activity volunteer at the Mineral Point Nursing Home. She was an active member of the First Congregational UCC Church of Mineral Point from 1951 and a member of its Women's Fellowship. She was preceded in death by her parents; father- and mother-in-law Roy and Annie Buckingham; brothers-in-law Delwin Buckingham, Raymond McCarville, Charles Noble, and Ellsworth Peterson; and a special niece Charlotte Rule. Lois is survived by her husband Bill of Mineral Point; children: William W. (Lynne) Buckingham of Mt. Horeb, Lynda (David) Thomas of Madison, and Blane (Melissa) Buckingham of Colgate; grandchildren: William R. (Tanya) Buckingham of Monona, Brendan (Alisa) Buckingham of Mt. Horeb, Baird (Kristin) Lackner-Buckingham of Mt. Horeb, Tristan (Erika) Thomas of Chicago, Carrie (Steven) Thomas-Wink of Franklin, TN, Melissa (Daniel) Marek of Austin, TX, Lauren Buckingham of Colgate, and Megan Buckingham of Athens, GA; and great-grandchildren: Lois, Eleanor, Avalyn, Eliana, and William R. F. Buckingham; Audrie, Kieran, and Kinslie Lackner-Buckingham; Elsie and Holden Thomas; Abbigail, Cambrie, Lillie, and Emerson Wink; and Collete and Simone Marek; and further survived by her sister Virginia Noble; sisters-in-law Joyce Buckingham, Joyce Peterson, and Wilma McCarville; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services will be held at the FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC CHURCH, 300 Maiden Street, Mineral Point at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 with Pastor Rich McLeer officiating. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mineral Point immediately following the service. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, February 3, 2020 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and again Tuesday from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity or a Mineral Point organization of your choice. Lois' family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation for the expertise and compassion of the nursing staff and doctors at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison and to the nursing staff and social workers at Upland Hills Health Hospital and Hospice in Dodgeville.