SANFORD – Priscilla H. Bucklin, 97, of Sanford, died at her home on Oct. 29, 2022 with her family by her side.

Priscilla was born on Dec. 11, 1924 to Winfield and Mildred (Wheet) Hutchins in Springvale where she grew up and attended local schools, graduating from Sanford High School in 1942.

Following high school, she attended business school in Biddeford. After finishing school, she took a position as a bookkeeper in the Sanford mills.

In 1944 she married Leonard Wright Bucklin, her high school sweetheart. Together they raised four children and shared 57 years of marriage before his death in 2001.

After getting married, Priscilla moved to Connecticut and lived on a military base while her husband was deployed during World War II. After Leonard completed his service in the military the couple returned to Maine and Priscilla stayed home to raise their family while Leonard attended law school and then divinity school.

Priscilla and her family then moved to Corinna for four years when her husband became the pastor of the Corrina and Stetson United Methodist Churches before eventually returning to Springvale. Priscilla took pride taking care of her young family and supporting her husband during his career. This made it possible for him to continue to advance and take many prestigious positions while she provided the support that he and their family needed to succeed.

Priscilla and her family eventually relocated to West Virginia when her husband took a position at West Virginia Wesleyan College. They went on to Maryland and then to Canton, N.Y. and from there to Lafayette, Ind. when Leonard took a position as the Vice President of Development at Purdue University.

They eventually returned to Maine settling in York Harbor where they semi-retired. However, Priscilla was never one to sit idle and was integral helping her husband operate an estate planning business which they ran together for many years in their retirement. Priscilla and Leonard finally moved back to the family home in Sanford in 1994 where she stayed for the rest of her life.

Priscilla had been a member of the North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford. She liked to stay physically active and enjoyed swimming until her mid-80s and continued to work-out well into her 90s. She was an avid reader, enjoyed cooking and loved spending time with her family, especially babysitting her great-grandchildren.

She loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit many places all over the world including Russia, Greece, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, and Columbia to name a few.

Priscilla was a shining example of what it means to be a loving and supportive mother and wife. She devoted her life to caring for her family and always putting their needs before hers without exception. She will be remembered for her loving care and selfless devotion to her family and will be dearly missed.

Priscilla was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Leonard Bucklin; her grandson, Kevin Bucklin; and by three siblings, Minerva Littlefield, Louise Lush and Frederick Hutchins.

Surviving are four children, David W. Bucklin and his wife Susan of Savannah, Tenn., Peter C. Bucklin and his wife Shar of Fishers, Ind., Susan Lincoln of Sanford and Karen Lyman of Sanford; nine grandchildren, David II, Chris, Steve, Tamara, Scott, Heather, Michael, Justin and Joseph; 19 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the North Parish Congregational Church located at 893 Main St. in Sanford.

Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit http://www.blackfuneralhomes.com.

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