User:Skylaark67

Glenn Patrick Buxton Glenn Patrick Buxton (b. 1954) is the son of Msgt. Charles Glenn Buxton Jr. and Margaret P. Hartnett Buxton. He was born in a U.S. Army Hospital in Heidelburg, Germany ten years to the day after his father landed on the beaches of Normandy as part of the D Day Invasion. He lived in Germany, Fort Knox Kentucky (where his sister Lucinda Jane Buxton was born), Washington Township, PA., Washington, PA., Patterson Heights, PA., Brighton Township, PA., then his family settled in Smyrna, DE. until graduation from Smyrna High School in 1972. As a young man he enjoyed playing baseball, scouting, playing trumpet in the band, working on cars and taking long hikes across the landscape of Delaware and Maryland. Oft times he would cover 20 miles a day with his German Shepherd companion Buster. After discharge from the U.S. Navy (serving on the USS John F Kennedy); he had seen all of the ocean he ever wanted to see and set about to see his country. His travels took him coast to coast 6 times through 36 states, along the way he found the southwest to be to his liking and spent a great deal of time working there on horse ranches (one the Adobe Escondido Ranch near Los Lunas NM.) and in the oil fields of West Texas as a roustabout for Willy Garrison and for O.I.L as a backup tong man on a rig near Ozona, Texas. Eventually his travels took him to California. In 1978 he stood on Topanga Beach near Malibu, CA. Traveling inland to find work, he landed on the Matts Ranch and helped to move it to its new location in Browns Canyon near Chatsworth, CA. He worked for Frank Matts 3 different times during his travels and eventually returned in 1986 to find Frank Matts (a retired Western movie stunt man) had passed. He found work with Jess Todd on the Thunderhead II ranch for a time. He later worked as a trail guide and wrangler on Catalina Island and as a ranch manager near Zuma Beach, CA. where he was injured in 1989. A fine gentleman told him it was "time to use your head for something other than a hat rack". He started back to school at first through computer technical training at the Westlake School of Technology. He then began formal training at LA Valley College where he married his first wife Lisa Lynn Levenson at the age of 35 and moved to Green Valley, CA. It was a rocky marriage that lasted a short but oft times joyous time. Working part time as a computer hardware technician at Execudata Inc. in Reseda, CA. he continued at Antelope Valley College receiving an AA in Letters and Arts and an AS in Computer Programming. After a short stint on a job at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas (remodeling the Adventure Dome 1994), he returned to his studies at California State University Bakersfield. Living and remodeling a house in exchange for rent in the oilfield town of Taft, CA., he commuted to school where he majored in Communications and minored in English Literature. After receiving a BA he decided to use his skills in Ministry. He first looked for masters programs in communications with that goal in mind and decided that the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH. could help in that regard. During his journey east, his car broke down in Gallup, NM., his 1976 Pontiac Gran Prix probably stills sits upon the Navaho Nation lands where he sold it to Gabriel Kanawite (sp.) for the sum of 1 dollar. He arrived at UD with 3 boxes and a duffle bag, the remainder of his belongings returning with his friend Dave Kaler to Bakersfield, CA. Dayton did indeed offer a great deal of enlightenment in the spiritual realm, but was lacking the communications aspect of ministry he sought. While in Dayton he discovered Contemplation and the works of Thomas Merton and learned a great deal from the Marianists. After a flurry of e-mails and phone calls, he once again he returned to California to study with the Jesuits and the Marymount Sisters at Loyola Marymount University in LA. There he received an MA in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis on pastoral communications. Looking for a place to realize his avocation, he landed twice in the classroom; once at a trade school called UEI and again at St Genevieve Catholic High School. If teaching was to be his ministry, he decided he had to become a better teacher. Returning to Loyola Marymount University he began work on an MAT in Communications (Master of Arts in Teaching) with and emphasis on Educational Administration. He was also able to take advantage of studies at the LMU Film School. During this time he married Joy Corbly Buxton, lived in Culver City, CA., and had a daughter Margaret Rose. They later moved to a 300 acre ranch in Leona Valley, CA. where he continued his studies and they had a son Patrick Jacob. While here, he taught both at DeVry University in Woodland Hills, CA., and at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA. where he was injured once again and subsequently forced to retire after a over decade of teaching. He volunteered for a time at the Sepulveda Veterans Hospital. He also volunteered over the years with numerous NAHRA affiliated organizations specializing in equine therapy for physically and mentally challenged children (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association now Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International). He volunteered with Heads Up, Santa Clarita, Ca., Mastering Abilities Riding Equines, Bakersfield, Ca., Bridge Riding for the Handicapped, Dayton, Oh., Ride to Fly, Palos Verdes, Ca., and Saddle Up in Quartz Hill, Ca. Asked by several friends what he was going to do with all that book learning, he told them "well, if nothing else I'll be the best educated cowboy this side of the Pecos", that may well be the truth of it. He now resides in the Antelope Valley where his children enjoy gymnastics, cheerleading, baseball, BMX, scouting, and school while dad enjoys watching. Skylaark67 (talk) 20:25, 10 June 2013 (UTC)