Otto “Buck” Bernard Bachner, 98, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 19, 2020.
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on February 18, 1922, to the late Bernard A. and Mary M. Bachner.
He graduated from St. Martin High School in 1939. After graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940. Buck served in World War II in North Africa in 1942 and returned to the U.S. in 1944 as a Master Sergeant. Next duty station was in Asheville, N.C., where he met Cora Mae Newton, his future wife, at a dance in the Grove Park Inn.
He remained in the U.S. Army and proudly served over 30 years with peacetime tours in Korea, Japan and Germany and wartime tours in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
He later retired at Fort Bragg in 1971 in the grade of Chief Warrant Officer W4. Mr. Bachner was awarded many commendations and service medals, including the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam.
He continued his service with the U.S. Army as a civilian working in the JROTC program in the Charlotte School System and later in the JROTC Regional Headquarters of Fort Bragg.
He retired from Civil Service in 1984, and he and Cora moved to Mooresville, Cora’s hometown, and built a home on Lake Norman.
He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, a member of the VFW Post 8866, a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Association and a member of the American Legion, Mooresville Post 0066.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Cora, who died in 2004; son, Thomas W. Bachner in 2019; and brother, Bernard C. Bachner in 2019.
He is survived by his grandson, Timothy, and his wife Misty; great grandchildren, Dalton, Takoda and Charity; great great granddaughter, Gracelyn, who called him “Pap;” sister, Helena, and her husband, Paul Murphy of Kennesaw, Ga.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, at St. Therese Catholic Church. Burial will follow the service at Glenwood Memorial Park.
For those who are unable to attend the church service, you may go to the following link for live stream: https://sainttherese.net/mass-livestream
For those who are unable to attend the graveside, you may go to the following link for the live stream: https://www.facebook.com/CavinCookFuneralHomeServices/
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mr. Bachner. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.