Troy W. Buck

Troy W. Buck, age 83, of Alpine, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2022.

A native of Alpine, Troy W. Buck was born on his family’s farm in 1939 to Clarence and Audie Francis Buck.  He graduated from Amity High School and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  He met Wilma Smith while attending the U of A, and they married in 1960.  Troy and Wilma moved to Hope, where he began his career as the youngest agriculture teacher in the state. 

Troy and Wilma owned and operated Buck’s Country Store in Alpine for over forty years.  In 1979, they built a home in Alpine and moved their six daughters back to the family farm where Troy continued to teach agriculture in the Amity and Centerpoint School Districts, until his retirement in 2016.  During his fifty-five years as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Mr. Buck taught, led, and nurtured countless students, community members, friends, and family members.  The countless awards and accolades he received throughout his career paled in comparison to the pride and joy he felt when his students and family succeeded. 

Troy was preceded in death by his parents; and his loving wife of fifty-nine years.

Troy is survived by his six daughters and four sons-in-law, Wauleai and Mark Huckabee of Hope, Neeka and Dale Richardson of Alpine, Sandy and Randy Jester of Curtis, Chawna Buck of Springdale, Kalena Gay and Thelton Hughes of Houston, Texas and Kay Buck of Alpine; twenty-five grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kyle Huckabee; Erin, Chance and Jace Davlin; Brian, Holly, Mallori and Mason Richardson; Preston, Laiken, Preslee, Paislee, Lillee and Layton Richardson; Jaclyn, Mike, Olivia (Farmer) and Ellison Ramer; Brandon, Mandy, Jaxon and Jordan Jester; and Josh, Heidi, Addilee (Ditgen), Maddox and Landree Jester; one brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Betty Buck of Alpine; and an infinite number of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors who were always life family to him.

"Mr. Buck, riding around in his blue pickup with the famous white top, wearing his white, pearl snap shirt, blue jeans and iconic blue FFA vest, will forever live in each of our memories."

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 18, 2022, in the Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Bro. John McAnally officiating.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Alpine Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brian Richardson, Brandon Jester, Preston Richardson, Kyle Huckabee, Josh Jester, Chance Davlin, Michael Ramer and Jaxon Jester.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Buck's memory to the Arkansas FFA Foundation, 301 Catherine Park Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913, the Alpine Cemetery Association, PO Box 262, Amity, Arkansas 71921 or to the SAU Troy Buck Family Scholarship, SAU Office of Financial Aid, MSC 9314, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753.

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.