Louisa Buck

Louisa DeMott Friedrich Buck, 78, died at 3:35 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at home. She was born Oct. 23, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Adam and Sarah “Sally” Friedrich. She married Barry M. Barash. They were divorced. She married Stephen E. Buck on Nov. 17, 1973, in Galesburg. He survives. Also surviving are her children, Scott (Gayle Wald) Barash, Washington, D.C., Rob (Susan) Buck, East Galesburg, and Brandi Buck, Galesburg; grandchildren, Melissa (Jake) Scott, Aurora, Amanda Buck and Molly Buck, Galesburg, and Zachary Barash, Washington, D.C.; stepgrandchildren, Miranda Perry, Galesburg, and Jordan Perry, East Galesburg; and a sister, Linda (Fred) Fogel, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her parents. She graduated cum laude from Abington Friends School, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University. She taught English and Latin, retiring in 2000 after 38 years, most with Galesburg District 205. She was a member of the Knox County Democratic Women and was named Woman of the Year in 2007. An active Knox County Democrat, she was an alternate delegate for Jimmy Carter at the Democratic Convention in 1976, and served for several years as a precinct committeewoman. She also served a year and a half as chairwoman of the Knox County Democrats. She had served on the Galesburg Public Library Board of Trustees and the Galesburg Public Library Foundation Board, and was a member of the Friends of the Galesburg Public Library. She was a student of history, a Civil War buff, a political junkie and an avid reader, particularly enjoying mysteries. She absolutely loved Shakespeare. She greatly enjoyed reading to children as a Reading Buddy at Cooke and King elementary schools. Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory. Cremation will be accorded, with graveside committal of ashes in Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow in the Watson-Thomas Legacy Center. Memorials may be made to the Galesburg Public Library Foundation and FISH Food Pantry of Galesburg.