[Unit556] sad news

Russ Buker passed away yesterday, February 9th, of Covid at home. He was a career Air Force pilot, flew 50 missions in the Korean War and subsequently a test pilot. After receiving his master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in 1959, he moved to the Antelope Valley where he was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. After retiring from the Air Force he worked for the CIA for 10 years (which he never talked about). Russ started playing bridge and other card games at an early age. He thinks he was probably introduced to bridge filling in when needed in family social bridge games. He learned Culbertson’s bidding methods but never had any formal lessons. He more or less stumbled into duplicate bridge with his wife playing at club games while in the air force. He ran a duplicate game at Edwards for four years and also played at other games in the area. Like a lot of us, he let bridge go for many years while he was raising a family and working. One of his favorite memories was always going to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles for Bridge Week. When he decided to learn more about bridge, he studied on his own from one of Max Hardy’ books. He was introduced to Linda Young by the partnership desk at the Las Vegas Regional. That began a bridge partnership and romance. They were “together” over ten years. They went to many tournaments together in Southern Calif and Nevada and played at the Joshua Tree Club, Friendly Bridge Club and Valencia Bridge Studio. Russ (russellsb) and Linda (limda) played three times a week with us in the Unit 556+ Virtual Club since it began thru his 94th birthday January 21st. Russ had four sons and one daughter. Cards may be sent to: Buker family 3531 W. Ave. J-14 Lancaster, CA 93536 Linda Young 2040 Florida Ave. Butte, MT 59701 You may contact Linda Young at lryoung1940(a)gmail.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Russ’s name to a charity of your choice.