Posted on: Tuesday, October 30, 2001

Hilo meteorologist O.B. Buckner dead at 63

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — O.B. Buckner, a Hilo meteorologist known in the community as "my favorite weatherman," died at his Hawaiian Beaches home in Puna last Wednesday after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was 63.

O.B. stood for Obama Kujenga, a name he adopted after meeting a religious figure from Kenya. He was born as George Henry Buckner in Indiana, the youngest child of Mary Buckner of Greencastle, Ill., now age 97.

Using a General Equivalency Diploma after dropping out of high school, Buckner joined the Air Force and served seven years, much of it in the Philippines where he met his wife, Paula.

Later he worked for the National Weather Service on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, Guam and O'ahu before finding his permanent home on the east side of the Big Island.

He worked for the federal government for 43 years before retiring. Then he volunteered for youth programs in Puna, and did much to help troubled teenagers.

"O.B. was a special person" said Hilo baker Jim O'Keefe. He met the weatherman he had heard on radio weather spots 20 years ago and admired him "for not having that usual monotone." They became fast friends.

A sister, retired Army sergeant major Catherine Juanita Mason of New Jersey, considered her brother "a very unique, special person. He certainly marched to his own drummer. He'll never be duplicated."

Buckner, who considered Puna "the best place on Earth," was a member of the Lions Club service movement, first at Waiakea in Hilo and later Pahoa.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. tonight at Dodo Mortuary. A memorial service is at 7 p.m. The family requests casual attire.

In addition to his wife, mother and sister, Buckner is survived by a daughter, Katherine; brothers, Dr. William "Pat" Buckner Jr. and James Reynolds; sisters, Mary Wilson and Laverta L. Terry; and a granddaughter.