Mrs. Gwendolyn E. Buck

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Dobbs Buck was the first of four daughters born to the union of Paul and Christine Dobbs on August 9, 1942.  She loved her sisters, and they all had a very close relationship with her.   Both of her preceded her in death.

“Gwen” as she was called by most people was a smart and outgoing little girl.  She showed a love for music and at the age of 5 began piano lessons at Alleda Ward Wells Music Studio where she continued until she earned a High School Diploma in Piano Music. That positive environment gave her the confidence and skill to be hired by other churches to play as a teenager.  She also accepted Christ as her Savior as a member of Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church and sang in the Cathedral Choir.

Gwen was educated in St. Louis Public Schools where math was always her best subject.  She was an honor roll student.  After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1960, she went to her parents and her grandfather’s Alma Mater--Lane College in Jackson, TN.  She was very active on campus as a Music and Elementary Education major.  She sang in the Lane College concert choir, she was a cheerleader and initiated into the Beta Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.   Lane College students played an important role during the height of the civil rights era.  At the time, civil rights leaders who worked with Martin Luther King, Jr.  traveled to train college students to effectively protest segregated restaurants.  She volunteered to participate in “Sit Ins” at the Woolworth lunch counter in Downtown Jackson, TN.  She admitted she was scared but she was proud she had the courage to participate because many students were afraid to.   After graduation, she moved to Dyersburg, TN and taught in the Dyersburg School System while also giving private piano lessons to children for a year.  She then decided to return to St. Louis, MO where she worked in St. Louis Public Schools as an elementary school teacher and Math Specialist for 34 years.  Gwen went on to earn a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Mathematics from Webster University.  

In the late 1960’s, she met Maurice W. Buck, Sr. who was enlisted in the United States Air Force.  Buck (as he was called by everyone} was also a widower with 2 young sons, Maurice Jr. (Maury) and Raymond.  In 1967, Gwen and Buck got married, and a few years later they had a daughter, Ramona and another son, Paul.  She was a great mother who tried to raise educated and respectful children.  The Buck family enjoyed traveling and being active in church.  She encouraged them to be the best at whatever they pursued in life.  Gwen and Buck also loved to travel together frequently after the children were grown. They were married for 44 years.  Buck, Maury and Raymond all proceeded her in death.

Gwen really loved teaching and working with children.  After she had Ramona and Paul, she decided to become the Children’s Choir Director at Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church.  That was truly a passion she did for 22 years.  She loved every aspect of it.  She practiced at home for hours to prepare, she loved picking new music to teach, planning music for holiday programs at church and directing the children on Sunday Morning.  

After she decided to stop being the Children’s Choir Director for health reasons, she continued to be active in several church organizations and she decided to join the Inspirational Gospel Chorus at Washington Metropolitan. Being a member of the choir gave her great joy.  Whenever she decided to join something she always gave it her all.   The choir enjoyed having her there and she traveled several times to sing at other churches in and out of state. Gospel music gave her comfort and strength during many health challenges she eventually faced.  

Gwen loved spending quality time with her children and grandchildren.  She encouraged them all to further their education to be successful adults.  She also encouraged them to achieve academic success and to cultivate their own passions and gifts.   She gave them private piano lessons, drove them to music lessons, took them on “field trips” to museums and parks, attended football and baseball games, piano recitals, school choir and band concerts, dance recitals, church choir concerts, and graduations.  Even when her health challenges prevented her from going to a few college graduations she watched online and spoke to them on many aspects of it.  She knew how important it was for them all to know how much she cared about their achievements and success as a person.

After a long year of illness, God called Gwen home on October 29, 2024. She is survived by three sisters, Patricia (Othello) of Silver Spring, MD, Julia (Bill) of Springfield, VA and Paula (Kevin) of Dallas, TX,  her daughter Ramona (Kenneth), her son, Paul (Autumn), Eight grandsons, Raymond Jr (Jetaun), Cedric (Eboni), Kenneth Jr (Melodi), Justin, Roman, Ricky, Ryan and Dylan, One Granddaughter, Brooke, Four Great Grandsons, Raymond III, Kenneth III, and two Great Granddaughters, Niya and Maci and a host of cousins and dear friends.

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