Charlotte, N.C. -- Stephen Noble Buckner died Monday, May 28, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by friends and family who benefited from his kind and gentle nature; who enjoyed his wry wit; and who admired his perseverance in the face of life's challenges.

Steve, 60, passed away peacefully in the home of his sister Jennie Buckner and brother-in-law Stephen Landers of Charlotte. Also surviving are aunts Thurston Orme of Maysville and Jane Williams of Flemingsburg; niece Katie Landers of Troy, NY; and cousins Cathie Campbell of Flemingsburg, Patti Hall and Barb Wilson of Lexington, Gerald Orme of Maysville, Connie Vice of Louisville, and Gregg Williams of Indianapolis, Ind.

Steve was born on Feb. 20, 1952 to the late James and Helen (Williams) Buckner in Huntington, W. VA. and grew up in Portsmouth, Ohio. As a Boy Scout, he developed a life-long appreciation of nature. He loved fishing, camping, trail riding, and photography. But nothing gave him more pleasure than music -- especially playing the guitar.

Steve graduated from the University of Cincinnati and later studied city and regional planning in graduate school at The Ohio State University. He worked for the city of Columbus, Ohio, and helped create its first computer mapping system. He was a geographic specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau in Charlotte and a planner for Lancaster County in North Carolina. He moved back to Cincinnati in 2002, where he worked for Data Recognition Corporation.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 9 at Shannon United Methodist Church with Rev. Phil Bradley officiating.  Interment will follow in the Shannon Cemetery.
Palmer Funeral Home of May's Lick is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Urban Ministry Center, 945 North College St., Charlotte, NC 28206. (www.charlotteurbanministycenter.org) or to Tender Mercies, 15 West 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. (www.tendermerciesinc.org). Online Condolences to www.palmerfuneralhome.net.

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