William D. Buffington

William David (Bill) Buffington died on Sunday, May 19 at his home at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, Indiana with his children and friends by his side.

  Bill was born on January 15, 1930, in Gary, Indiana, to William E. and Velma L Buffington, both deceased.  

  Bill is survived by his nephew, Michael Price of Los Angeles and his daughter Naomi Price of Tokyo, Japan, his niece, Marilyn Malanche of Newbury Park, California, his second cousins Gerry Thatcher of Tucson, Arizona, Carol Thatcher of Findlay, Ohio, and Tim Thatcher of Findlay, Ohio, and many more cousins in both Northern and Southern California.  Bill was proceeded in death by his sisters, Betty Price (106 years) and Marilyn Buffington (10 years).

  Bill is also survived by his nieces, nephews, and their children in Germany, including Thomas Meyer, Frank Meyer, Daniela Broennle, and Birgit Anderson.

  Bill was proceeded in death by his sister-in-law Anna Meyer and her husband Werner, and his brother-in-law Guenter Heinen and his wife Martel.

  Bill grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1948.

While in high school, he was an enthusiastic member of the debate team, and worked as a soda jerk at the local drug store.

  He attended Purdue University from 1948 to 1952 and attended the University of Minnesota from 1956 to 1960.  

  Bill served in the US Army from 1953 to 1956, where he graduated from the US Army Language School in Russian language and later served in the US Army Military Intelligence in Kronberg, Germany. He also studied Russian at Dartmouth College and at Moscow State University.

  On March 30, 1957, he married Inge Heinen, whom he met while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany.  After over 60 years of marriage, he lost his beloved wife Inge in January of 2018.

  At Purdue University, Bill received his Master’s degree and PhD degree in Foreign Language Education, and taught Russian at Purdue from 1961 to 1995, retiring as an Emeritus Professor. Dr. Buffington’s name is inscribed in the Book of Great Teachers at Purdue University.

  While at Purdue, Bill was a member of the Reamer Club, and regularly drove the Boilermaker Express to home and away football games.  He bled old gold and black and was a lifelong Purdue fan.  

  Bill was a panelist reporting on the Soviet press for "Continental Comment", the nationally distributed television and radio programs from Purdue University from 1965 to 1971.

  Additionally, he was the creator of the Purdue educational television series, "Russia and the Russians” which aired 45 programs from 1973 to 1978. Bill also helped create television programming in Russian for the use in language classrooms across the US.

  Bill administered the foreign language placement tests to incoming Purdue freshmen language students for 25 years and served as the Director of the Purdue Foreign Language Laboratory for 14 years.

  Bill was a part of several churches over the years, and was active most recently in two Lutheran churches, St. James Lutheran and University Lutheran.  He especially enjoyed participating in bible studies with Purdue students.

  One of his passions was writing many “letters to the editor” and guest columns for the Journal and Courier on Soviet affairs, foreign policy, politics, and society.

  Bill was an avid reader of history and biographies, collecting over 1000 volumes in his personal library.  He loved books and read every day, always having a book within reach.

  Bill was as a member of Lafayette Kiwanis since 2002 and served as the club’s president from 2006 to 2007.  He was also a member of the VFW Post located at Westminster for the veteran residents.

  Bill always fought for what he believed was right and was always trying to make the lives of his neighbors better.  Recently, he pushed Westminster to re-install an American Flag and a piano in the main lobby of the facility.  The flag and the piano are back, and his neighbors are enjoying them both today.

  Bill is survived by his son, David Buffington (Karen) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and daughter, Lisa Buffington of Flagstaff, Arizona (Murray), and his beloved grandchildren Eric, Morgen and Kylin. 

  Bill was a devoted husband, father, and a doting grandfather, who entertained everyone he met with magic tricks, tall tales and “dad” jokes.

  A memorial service and celebration of Bill’s life will be held at the Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home in Brookston (101 West 4th Street) on Wednesday, May 29 at 2:00 pm.  Private family interment to occur prior to the service at Spring Creek Cemetery in rural Brookston.