Eugene "Ben" B. Buckley of New Castle passed away at 9:21 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was 79. Mr. Buckley was born Nov. 10, 1933, in New Castle, a son of Eugene R. and Mary Robinson Buckley. He was a 1951 graduate of New Castle High School and later went on to attend some college courses. Mr. Buckley served in the Navy aboard numerous aircraft carriers. Ben retired from Union Area School District as a custodian. Earlier in his working career he was employed by Mesta Machine Co. and American Cyanamid as a laborer. He was a member of St. Mary Church, Mary Mother of Hope Parish, where he served as an altar boy during his childhood. He enjoyed reading, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and traveling all over the world with his wife and family. Ben enjoyed taking the time to get to know people and by the time you were done talking, he had formed a friendship and lasting impression with you. Surviving are his wife, Frances Bondi Buckley, whom he married Jan. 12, 1957; two daughters, Cindy Reeves of New Castle and Mary Oestreich of New Wilmington; a son, David Buckley of Canton, Ohio; a sister, Edna Squeglia of New Castle; five grandchildren, Jennifer, Carla and Gary Reeves, Michael Oestreich and his wife, Sara, and Peter "Alex" Oestreich; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by two brothers, Anthony and Joseph Buckley; and three sisters, Mary Margaret Dewhirst, Ann Murphy and Rose Jones. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, Box 11454, Alexandria, Va. 22312. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, 111 W. Falls St. There will be a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mary Church, Mary Mother of Hope Parish, with the Rev. Nicholas S. Vaskov, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery.