Darleine Joyce Bucklew passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, on April 12, 2024. She was born Dec. 3, 1933, in Greeley, Colorado, and graduated from Greeley High School in 1951.

Darleine’s college year was interrupted when she met Willard Bruce Bucklew at Denver University, and they were married on Aug. 3, 1952. They were young and spent 67 years together until his death in 2019.

They moved to Los Angeles, California, where Bruce attended pre-med at UCLA and Medical School at USC.

Darleine earned her PHT (Put Husband Through) working at Hughes Aircraft as an assistant to the editor of the company’s newspaper; IBM; and assistant to the president, both at L.A. Federal Savings and California Federal Savings.

She was the president of the Student American Medical Association at USC.

After Bruce completed his urology residency at Los Angeles General Hospital, they moved to Montecito, and he opened his private practice in Santa Barbara.

A typical Sagittarius, Darleine loved to travel. Together, she and Bruce traveled from Tahiti to Timbuktu. She said it the way it was, and was known for her humor and often laughed at her own foibles.

Darleine loved music, art, collected rare books, and was a freelance writer. Many enjoyed her frequent gourmet dinner parties.

Darleine loved all God’s creatures. She volunteered through the years for charities, including the Santa Barbara Humane Society, Santa Barbara General Hospital, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Santa Barbara, Lobero Theatre Associates, Direct Relief, Woman’s Auxiliary, S.B. County Medical Society, and All Saints-by-the-Sea Childrens’ Library.

Darleine is survived by their sons Brent Bucklew and Craig Bucklew; and daughter Wendy Bucklew.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Santa Barbara Humane Society, https://sbhumane.givecloud.co/givenow.