-- Courier's History Corner --

Contributed

A story from The Bandera New Era
October 16, 1941
Newspaper copy courtesy Waverly Lewis

Loss of a leading citizen

FRANK BUCK DIED THURSDAY
Another good Bandera Citizen answered the final summons on Thursday afternoon of last week, when death claimed Franklin Buck, aged 72, after an illness of several months. Funeral services were held at Plummer Funeral Home... with interment at the Pipe Creek Cemetery.
The services were conducted by Rev. EC Ray and Rev. WA Bowen, pastor of the Bandera Baptist Church. J. Marvin Hunter delivered a brief eulogy. Pallbearers were Vic Saul, LE Short, Thomas Smith, Albert Faris, Alfred Reinarz and Billie Burns.
... Franklin Buck was born at Rockport, Texas, Nov. 16, 1869, the son of Mr. And Mrs. E. Buck Sr., and moved to Bandera County with his parents in 1873, settling in the Pipe Creek community. Of the ten children in this family all grew up and remained here until death broke the circle of children when Ebb Buck, the eldest, died last February, at the age of 79.
... For many years Mr. And Mrs. Ebb Buck, assisted by Frank Buck and their sister, Mrs. Mamie Buck, operated the Buck Ranch, the first guest ranch to be opened to the public in this community, a ranch which became very popular with Houston and San Antonio people who came to spend weekends or summer vacations in our delightful region.
The accommodations and table fare so appealed to these visitors that the quarters had to be enlarged several times and reservations had to be made far in advance of the season in order to take care of the crowds that came each summer. By his quiet courtesy and readiness to make all visitors at the Buck Ranch feel at home, Frank Buck became a general favorite with all of the guests.
...Early in February, when his brother, Ebb Buck, was stricken and lingered for several days, Frank Buck sat by his bedside holding his hand and offering comforting words. The two brothers had never been separated, and when the earthly tie that had bound them together for so many years was severed, Frank Buck, a sick man, could not withstand the shock of his brother's death, and began to fail rapidly.
Two months ago he took to his bed, and all that tender hands of the devoted sister, and the faithful ministrations of the family physician could do was done for him, but to no avail. He quietly passed away last Thursday afternoon.
Frank Buck will be greatly missed in this community. We all realize that we have lost a friend and a good citizen. Peace to his great soul.
J. Marvin Hunter