H.B. \Buck\"" Egbert Obituary (1912 - 2012)

\ H.B. 'Buck' Egbert passed away peacefully at Oakridge Retirement Center on Friday, November 30. He was born in Caldwell County, KY on November 23, 1912. Parents were Brady Crockett Egbert and Laura Mae Barnes. He was a man with many names and wore many hatsH.B. or Buck to family and friends'Daddy, Pepaw, Poppa, and Poppy' to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. \ \ Buck began working at the coal mines at the age of 13 and many years later, retired from Peabody Coal Company. Until his death, he was the oldest living UMWA member (80 years) in District 12. He was also the oldest living member of the area Woodmen of the World and Grapevine Baptist Church. He lived to celebrate his 100th birthday when he received over 150 cards and letters, even from President Obama, Governor Beshears, and other dignitaries. \ \ For someone who had very little formal education, there wasn't much he couldn't do. He was a coal miner, farmer, carpenter, brick layer, wood crafter (winning many blue ribbons at the Hopkins County Fair) and welder. He loved telling stories of his time welding on the LST's in Evansville during the war and he was so proud of the forty he helped build. After retiring, he loved to travel with our mother in their motor home. After her death in 1982, he spent many hours volunteering, cleaning up Grapevine Cemetery and became a member of the cemetery board. Buck was a faithful member of Grapevine Baptist Church, a Kentucky Colonel and a loyal U.K. Basketball fan. He loved to read and made regular trips to the library, favoring western novels. \ \ Preceding him in death was his first wife (of 49 years), Earline Fike Egbert, parents, Brady and Laura Egbert, siblings, Artie, Jay, Everett, Pauline, Edna, Carmon and a brother and sister in infancy; sons-in-law, Bob Derington and Al Lopez, and daughter-in-law, Ann Egbert. \ \ Survivors include children, Donald (Shirley) Egbert, Marilyn Derington, and Judy Lopez. Grandchildren: Chris (Brandy) Egbert, Kim Murphy, Trudie (Eric) Shrewsberry, Tammi (Doug) Dant, Melissa (Rusty) Williams and Shana (Paul) Cochran. Great-grandchildren: Sgt. Josh Derington (U. S. Army, stationed in Texas, awaiting deployment to Kuwait), Jordan Dant, Hilary (Nick) Wilson, Lelia Dant, Lexie Murphy, Anna Williams, Victory Shrewsberry, Shadowe Cochran, and Brent Williams. Great-great grandson, Braylon Williams. Stepgrandchildren, Jimmy Hanks and Melissa (Paul) Harvey and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by wife, Betty (Utley) Egbert, step-sons Barry (Debbie) Utley, Tim (Freda) Utley and Stanley (Stephanie) Utley, three step-grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren. \ \ We would like to thank the staffs at Regional Medical Center, Hillside Villa, Baptist Health Hospice and Care Tenders for their care and concern. We will be eternally grateful for the extraordinary loving care he received at Oakridge Retirement Center. We were very fortunate to have Daddy with us for so many years and the Oakridge staff made his last days very comfortable. \ \ Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 3, 2012 at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Gaddis, Rev. Jack Holt and Rev. Ralph Gill officiating. Burial will follow in Grapevine Cemetery. \ \ Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sunday and after 11:00 A.M. Monday at the funeral home. \ \ In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grapevine Baptist Church Building Fund or the Gideon Society. \ \