William Amos Buck, Jr. ’56

William Amos Buck, Jr. ’56, of Pawleys Island, S.C., died July 18 in Pawleys Island. He was born March 1, 1931, in Jasper, Ala., the son of the late William A. Buck, whom took part in the D-Day landings during WWII, and Pauline Gray Buck. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Thomas Pacey. Buck served in the U.S. Navy on the destroyer USS Van Valkenburgh during the Korean Conflict, and provided shore bombardment troop support. He attended Davidson, the University of South Carolina, and the Medical College of Virginia, receiving his DDS in 1959. He practiced in Myrtle Beach for over 30 years and was loved by all his patients for his expertise, wit, and chair-side manner. Buck provided free dental services to many through local charities. He was a Rotarian in Myrtle Beach for over 20 years and received the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1987. His family hosted numerous exchange students from all over the world during this time through Rotary. Buck traveled to Russia and China in the 1970s with the People to People organization, serving as ambassadors in dentistry groups teaching modern methods. As a member of the S.C. Dental Association and the Pee Dee Dental Association, he served as directing secretary and commercial secretary for the annual meetings, then as president of the Pee Dee Dental Association in 1967-68. He was elected to the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry (1973-78) and served as president in 1977. In 1978 Buck received a fellowship in the academy of General Dentistry. He has held membership in the American Academy of Oncology and the International College of Dentists. In 1986 he received his certified financial planner degree and enjoyed helping other dentists set up planning for their practice. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Sada Ann Cox Buck, 76 Old Waccamaw Dr., Pawleys Island, SC 29585-7233; two sons, Thomas Brewster Buck (Jamie) and John Franklin Buck (Cindy); a daughter, Sarah Lacy Anderson (Sammy); nine lovely grandchildren, Dalt Todd, Mary Ashley Mercer (Buck), David Buck, Paulina Buck, Ward Buck, Caroline Buck, Juliet Buck, Pace Anderson, and Elle Anderson; and his siblings, Terry Buck (Iris), Barbara Bianco (Joe), and Peter Buck (Rebecca).