In the 1970s, Joe Buckner helped bring a little bit of history to Kennesaw. The CSX carman was part of the crew that delivered the famed Civil War-era locomotive the General to the city, his family said.
“He was the crane operator that put the General into the [museum],” said Joyce Buckner, his wife of 60 years.
Handling train cars and engines with a crane was nothing new to Mr. Buckner, who for 42 years, worked for the rail company that eventually became CSX. He was one of the specialists called when a train jumped its track, which happened about once every two months, said son Steve Buckner, of Canton.
Mr. Buckner said operating the crane, his father would help clear the track, repair it and reopen the line.
“Most people don’t know how often trains jump the tracks, but we did,” Mr. Buckner said. “Because every time it happened close to home, he’d get called and he’d take us.”
Paulette Buckner Roberts, of Mableton, said she and her siblings “saw a lot of train accidents when we were kids.”
“And I don’t think we thought anything of it,” she said. “That’s just what our daddy did.”
Joseph Buckner, called Joe by most, of Smyrna, died Sunday from complications from lung cancer. He was 80. A funeral service is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Central Baptist Church, Marietta. Burial will follow at Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery. Carmichael Funeral Home, Smyrna, is in charge.
Mr. Buckner was often recognized for his service while at CSX. He was even presented a plaque from the city of Kennesaw for his role in getting the General on display.
What may not have appeared among his commendations was his dedication to his family. His schedule at the rail company allowed him to be home by 3 p.m., when his children got home from school. After a full day in the roundhouse, he’d take his children hunting, fishing or hiking.
“I can’t tell you how many times he’d call me and tell me to pack up the kids, we’re going camping,” Mrs. Buckner said. “He loved the outdoors.”
The Buckners and their children traveled all over the country in their RV. Once then kids were grown, the couple kept going until about a year or so ago, their daughter said.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Mr. Buckner started working for CSX when he was 19. He wanted to go into the military, but a medical condition required him to be sent back home. He began the job at the rail company to provide for his wife and quickly growing family.
“He started working three days before I was born” said Mrs. Roberts, the oldest of five children.
Her mother added, “They asked him who his dependents were, when he was filling out his paperwork, you know? And he said he’d come back Monday and let them know. Paulette was born that Saturday.”
Mr. Buckner retired from CSX in 1992, the first year he qualified for retirement. Mrs. Buckner said she thinks her husband was just ready to retire early, enabling them to enjoy more time together.
“He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather,” his daughter said through tears. “He spent time with us and showed us he loved us and we loved him too.”
In addition to his wife, daughter and son, Mr. Buckner is also survived by a second daughter, Sabrina Driskell of Bremen; two additional sons, Lt. Col. Eddie Buckner of Evans and Jeff Buckner of Smyrna; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
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