Buck Tickle was a man of faith. He enjoyed talking about his Lord and Savior, Jesus, his church and of course, not to mention his favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. He loved to tell stories about the old days. From his time spent in Washington, D.C., Buck liked to tell that he played music with Roy Clark, a Meherrin, Virginia – Washington, D.C. native. Buck grew up in the country, in rural North Carolina, his feet had never walked the pavement of a city street until he was 15 years old. On occasion he skipped school and went to the movies to see Cary Grant, or a western with Wendell Corey or any other film that happened to be playing at that time. Those old movies are now the classics of today. Buck was raised on a farm and among his many tales were memories of his chores and growing up with his brothers and sisters. The tobacco crop was a family livelihood. At times it was his job to keep the fire going in the tobacco barn. Many times he had to stay up all night just to make sure the fire was stoked and never went out. He liked to talk about his momma and daddy, John and Hattie Tickle. He said in later years his father sold the family farm to the US Corning plant. "My father," Buck used to say, "was a smart man. He taught my mother how to read and write." He also claimed that his momma was a strong woman and could still butcher and dress out a hog at age 80. "Yes sir!" he'd say (in his downhome Virginia accent) with a big smile on his face. From 1967/68 and up until the time of his passing, he lived on a five acre homestead he bought from his momma that was "one foot in the city and one foot in the country." For many years Buck raised a big garden. He kept Jersey, Angus and White Faced cattle for milk and beef, along with chickens and an old mule named, Rodie (who knew the meaning of "Gee and Haw") that plowed his garden. He was nearly self-sufficient from what he grew, to include fruit trees as well. There were always potatoes, sweet milk and fresh churned butter. He loved to take a huge hunk of butter on his dinner plate and swirl it around in Karo Syrup for dessert after a big hearty meal. Buck was a colorful character who is well remembered.

A rockabilly song called, "That Other Woman" written and performed by Buck Tickle can be found on Youtube.

THE DANVILLE REGISTER & BEE
Danville, Virginia
August 5, 2009
page A5

Leo Thomas "Buck" Tickle, Sr, 79, of 245 N. Raleigh Ct., Danville, went to be with his Lord on Monday, August 3, 2009. He died in Danville Regional Medical Center. Born December 28, 1929 in Rockingham County, NC, he was the son of the late Hattie Jones Tickle and the late John Tickle. He retired from US Gypsum/Masonite. He was a member of Blessed Hope Baptist Church and was a talented musician and enjoyed making music. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. In addition to his wife of the residence, he is survived by seven sons, a sister and two brothers, 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Margie Moore and three brothers, Carl Tickle, George Tickle and Howard Tickle. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Edwards officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. prior to the memorial service and at other times at the residence, 245 N. Raleigh Ct., Danville. In lieu of flowers, family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the Blessed Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, 1118 Franklin Tpke, Daville, VA 24540.