Buckwalter, Albert S. (1922-2004)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2004 May 14 p. 2

Birth date: 1922 Apr 19

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 May 24 p. 7

text of obituary:

Missionary, translator of Bible in Argentina dies

By Mennonite Mission Network

GOSHEN, Ind. — Albert S. Buckwalter, whose passion was translating the Bible into indigenous languages during 43 years of missionary service in Argentina, died May 12 at his home. He was 82.

Buckwalter, with his wife, Lois, served the indigenous people of the Argentine Chaco from 1950 to 1993 with Mennonite Board of Missions.

Working with indigenous associates, Buckwalter translated the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament into three Guaycurú languages — Toba, Pilagá, and Mocoví. He also compiled dictionaries in these languages. A few weeks before his death, he completed a Spanish-Guaycurú dictionary.

Because of his facility with indigenous languages, a Toba elder once asked Buckwalter if his mother was a Toba woman. Buckwalter considered this one of the greatest compliments of his life.

Mennonite missionaries began to work with northern Argentina's indigenous people in 1943. Soon after the Buckwalters arrived, the focus of ministry shifted from planting Mennonite churches to accompanying emerging indigenous churches.

"Albert and Lois pioneered an important shift in encouraging the development of truly indigenous churches and then accompanying these churches in translating and making the Scriptures available tin the indigenous languages," said Linda Shelly, Mennonite Mission Network's director for Latin America.

Buckwalter was born April 19, 1922, in Newton, Kan., to Earl and Florida Rose Shank Buckwalter. He graduated from Hesston (Kan.) College in 1942, Goshen (Ind.) College in 1947 and Goshen Biblical Seminary in 1949. In 1947 he married Lois Litwiller, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Rachel Miller of Lawrence, Kan., and Naomi Buckwalter of San Diego; two sons, Tim of Philadelphia and Steve of Neustadt, Germany; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Martha Hershberger of Hesston and Esther Rose Graber of Aibonito, Puerto Rico.

He was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen where a memorial service was held May 15.