“Buck” Daniel Earland Spaulding, 78, passed peacefully in his Scarborough, Maine home surrounded by love on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. He was a kind and devout husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, friend, mentor, servant of God, disciple of Christ, and was a beloved man to all who knew him.
Buck was born in Syracuse, New York on March 1, 1940, to Cay Farmer Spaulding and Daniel Evander Spaulding, He grew up in Central NY and attended Manlius Military Academy and graduated from Niagara University in 1963. Upon graduation he entered the Navy and served in active duty in Vietnam.
Buck married the love of his life, Kathi Ryan Travis on June 27, 1969 in Fayetteville, NY where they resided until they moved to the western part of the state to open a retail clothing store in East Aurora. In 1981, Buck, Kathi and their six children made their home in Kennebunk, Maine.
He was a humble and gracious man who was always quietly doing for others and impacted his world greatly by embodying Christ’s love. He was also an avid sportsman and he enjoyed many skiing and baseball adventures, including playing semi-pro baseball post college. Golf was a lifetime pursuit and practice. He spent the majority of his career as a sales representative.
Buck is survived by his beloved wife and dance partner, Kathi and their six children, Timothy (and Barb) Spaulding, Andrew Spaulding (and Mariah Freesen), Carey (and Steve) Yescott, Ryan Spaulding, Molly Spaulding, and Kathryn (and Justin) Park and to each one he was an example of unconditional love. He was the biggest fan on the sidelines of his 8 grandchildren’s lives, Amanda Spaulding, Travis Spaulding, Kiley Cyr, Keeton Kendricks, Hadlee Yescott, Jeremiah Park, Selah Park, and Bodhi Spaulding. And a very proud Poppy to his 3 great grandchildren, Julia Spaulding, Damon Taylor, and Timothy Taylor. Buck was also grateful for his five siblings, who were all dear to his heart, Art Spaulding, Kathy Haley, Jean Loftus, Mark Spaulding, and Mary Cay Casler.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 31st from 4 to 7pm and Buck’s Celebration of Life Service is to be hosted on Friday, February 1st at 11:00 am, at his home church, Eastpoint Christian Church, 345 Clarks Pond Parkway South Portland, Maine, 04106.
In honor of his commitment to the value of mentoring men in the way of Christ's love, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to this good work. Go to:
https://pushpay.com/g/eastpointchurch?src=hpp and click “Men's Ministry - In Memory of Buck Spaulding,” in the drop down menu to donate in his memory.
All who knew him, know this to be true and trust he left confidently assured that, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
Well done, good and faithful servant!
It was a true gift to surround our father in his final days as he surrendered to love and receives the fruit of his faithful labors of a life well lived. It is said that in order to die well, one must live well, and indeed this takes lots of practice and a whole lot of faith and love. And practice, faith, and love our dad did well...with a commitment that carried him through many storms, with his devout, open, and kind heart and his gracious embodiment of unconditional love.
His life has been a beautiful and gentle invitation to those he walked alongside of and mentored in the ways of the love of Christ.
We would love for the echoes of the ways he has impacted your story to be shared here as he navigates his final days and beyond. We would also love to just hear snap shots of his life through your memories of him...as we celebrate who he is and was and will be in our hearts forever more. We invite you to continue to share your stories of a truly great man, who has lived his life rooted in love, in service to God and his neighbor.
Recorded in John 13:35, Jesus said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” and in 1 Peter 4;8, “Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.” and we are deeply blessed to have an earthly father who has been a true disciple.
Thank you for being a part of our father’s life and many blessings and much peace to you and yours.
