Evan Burr Bukey's Obituary
Remembering Evan Burr Bukey
1940-2024
Lifelong scholar Evan Bukey passed away November 20, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Though his death was unexpected, he was wrapped in the caring words of family and friends during his last hours. Evan was married to Anita Fishpaw Bukey for 61 years; their enduring love and partnership was built on shared interests, intellectual curiosity, and matched wits.
Evan shared his drive for knowledge and truth with thousands of students and colleagues during his career as a historian and writer. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University, and in 1969 joined the University of Arkansas Department of History. He also served as a visiting instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and as a Visiting Fellow to Cambridge University’s Wolfson College. He retired in 2008, but never stopped writing, publishing, and contributing to the field in his Emeritus role.
Evan leaves a legacy of expertise about World War II and the tumultuous political and social climate of Europe during the centuries before and after the war. During his career he published four books and was sought out by historical journals as contributor and book reviewer.
He was modest about his numerous awards, but his family is not. Highlights include the 2014 Karl von Vogelsang state prize in history from the cultural ministry of Austria, the 2000 National Jewish Book Award, and the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Citation from his undergraduate alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan University. Teaching was his passion and he brought history to life with his dynamic and conversational style. He was honored by the University of Arkansas with the Master Teacher Award in 1997 and the Arkansas Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement Award in 2002.
Evan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. During peacetime his father Norman was an engineer with Cincinnati Gas & Electric and his mother Dorthy was a teacher. During the buildup to World War II, and during the conflict, Norman served the U.S. Army as lieutenant colonel in the Coast Artillery, providing Evan with indelible memories of anti-aircraft blimps and warships off the Carolina coast.
The war’s end brought younger brother David, now of Seattle, WA. Both boys attended Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, then Ohio Wesleyan University where they pledged the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Evan nurtured his Ohio friendships and treasured the brothers of Ohio Delta chapter, attending almost every reunion over six decades.
Anita and Evan met as students at The Little Brown Jug in their college town of Delaware, Ohio. They married in 1963 and launched their first academic journey together when Evan’s Fulbright fellowship took them to Gottingen, Germany. Evan and Anita mapped a constellation of friendships across Europe that they happily returned to over many years of travels for work and discovery.
Evan was a loving father and grandfather–roles that he cherished. His oratory skills enhanced bedtime reading with dramatic flourishes and sound effects. Somehow his children reached adulthood with all of their fingers and toes–a small miracle given the firepower unleashed each Fourth of July.
He loved swimming at the university pool, relishing the post-swim sauna which found his pool friends debating the issues of the day like Roman senators in the baths. He strived to be the best-dressed at any function, putting his vast necktie collection on view at parties, concerts, and the opera. A bit of The Grinch stayed with him all year round to tamp down undue noise and confusion. Yet animals and grandchildren always betrayed his truly sweet nature by snuggling up to him on the couch.
Evan is survived by wife Anita, son David Burr Bukey and wife Beth, daughter Ellen Bukey Langley and husband Mark, brother David Bruce Bukey and wife Rachel, nieces Elizabeth Saunter and Julianne Bukey Peterson, and grandchildren Sebastian Langley, Robin Langley, Lauren Bukey, Kathryn Bukey, and Gretchen Bukey.
The family will soon share the date for a spring celebration of Evan's life at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Ohio Wesleyan University
Fund for the The Richard W. Smith Lecture in Civil War History
Mowry Alumni Center, Attn: Natalie Doan
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Or to the Salvation Army, or to the cause of your choice.
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