George (Buck) David Saltzman
George (Buck) David Saltzman, age 86, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024 peacefully at his home in Sullivan, Missouri.
George, known to everyone as Buck, was born on November 30, 1937 in Richland, Missouri, the third of six children, to the late Melvin and Ruth (Wolf) Saltzman. Like many in his day, he was born on a farm without the luxuries of electricity and running water. At the age of 5, Buck started attending Oak Grove School with a long 6-mile round-trip walk from home. It was on the farm where he developed his strong work ethic beginning at a very young age tending to chores before and after school; a work ethic he exhibited throughout the rest of his life. An enterprising young man, Buck started milking cows at age 6 to make money and later transitioned to mowing lawns at age 9 with his trusty reel mower. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at age 9 and was baptized in Richland, MO and later becoming a member of Temple Baptist Church in Sullivan, where he previously acted as a youth boys counsellor and served in the bus ministry.
At the age of 13, he began learning the construction and flooring trades from his grandfather and father. He was a quick learner, a whiz at any type of construction calculation, and paid close attention to detail which helped him perfect these crafts. On January 1, 1957, George and Julia Bookhout were united in marriage at High Point Baptist Church in Stoutland, MO and to that Union seven children were born: Alisa, Mary, George David II, Valerie, Christopher, Christian, and Melinda. After several moves, they made their home in Sullivan in 1961 where Buck began a 20-year career at Fidelity Telephone. Buck was known for his work ethic and was never known to have idle hands. He worked in construction and the flooring trade his entire life, often working evenings and weekends outside his day job. He had many hobbies which included earning his pilot’s license in the early 1960’s and becoming a member of the Civil Air Patrol working search and rescue for several years. He enjoyed fishing, motorcycles, and was a master mechanic – if it had a motor – he could fix it. He enjoyed helping others and serving his community, becoming a member of the Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department in the early 1960's reaching, at one point, the rank of Captain. Buck ended his career as a Bus Mechanic for the Sullivan School District, retiring in 2002.
Buck is survived by his children, Alisa Scantlan and husband Steve of Sullivan, Mary Hopkins and husband Roger of Arnold, MO, David Saltzman of Sullivan, Valerie Lore and husband Hank of Bourbon, and Melinda Lahmann and Husband Brandon of Bourbon; Eleven grandchildren, Daniel Scantlan, Brooke Strube and husband Jim, Brittany Schatz and husband Brad, George David Saltzman III and wife Andrea, Christopher Saltzman and wife Rachel, Nicholas Saltzman, Alexandria Lore and significant other Justin Kutay, Savannah Lore and husband Michael Wyatt, Brianna Lore and significant other Drew Thurmond, Elleanor and Maddeline Lahmann; Seventeen great-grandchildren; Two sisters, Glenna Manes of Lebanon, MO, Joan Patton of Crocker MO, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Buck was preceded in death by his wife, Julia (Bookhout) Saltzman; infant twin sons Christopher Jon & Christian Jay; his parents, Melvin and Ruth (Wolf) Saltzman; two sisters, Shirley Moore & Kathleen Keen; and one brother Robert Saltzman.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23rd, at Eaton Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 at Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan with interment to follow in Crow Cemetery, Sullivan, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Buck’s name.
All arrangements under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Mo.