Josephine Anna Louise Dickinson

Josephine “Jo” Anna Louise “Buckingham” Dickinson age 101 passed away on December 25, 2020 in Reno, NV.

            She was born February 17, 1919, in Paradise Valley, Nevada in the house her Great-Grandfather, John Charles Kemler, built in 1865. It still stands today on the homesteaded cattle ranch. Her parents were Frederick Charles “Fritz” Buckingham and Louise Roselina (Marty) Buckingham. She was the big sister to her brothers Frederick Emil “Fritzie” Buckingham and Kenneth Robert Buckingham. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Frederick Buckingham. She is survived by her brother Kenneth Buckingham, nieces Diana Blair, Karen Kornbrust, Lisa Tauchen, nephews Robert Buckingham, David Buckingham and many cousins, great nieces and great nephews. She was previously married to Richard “Dick” Dickinson.

            She attended elementary school and her first two years of high school at Paradise Valley, NV and finished her last two years of high school first in Woodland, CA and then graduated from high school in Sacramento, CA. She went to Sacramento Junior College for two years. She began her state service as a junior stenographer clerk with the Department of DMV in December 1939. Then she went on to work for various state departments. She worked 23 years for the Division of Safety and Dams as an executive secretary for the Department of Water Resources and retired from its Division of Fiscal Services as a planner on December 30, 1985 after 42 years with the State of California.

            Jo loved music, dancing, gardening, eating out and shopping. She was very kind, generous and family oriented making her a great historian of family history. She was a kid at heart and would sometimes get your attention by saying “Hey Kid.” She was proud of her lemon tree and would mail them to various family and friends for years. Jo saw needs in animals and people and tried to fill them especially with her family. With her big heart she always made it a priority to take great care of the family graves. She would also buy supplies and toiletries for the homeless and hand them out. Her independent nature made her a strong advocate for animal needs and she often took in stray cats and dogs through the years. Every Christmas was special with her and she always made it back home to NV.

            Special thanks to Artisan Gardens group home in Reno, NV and their loving caregivers Mina “Mabel”, Ronnie “Charlie” and April. So Thankful and appreciative of your loving care and patience with her, right to the end.

            Funeral arrangements made with W.F. Gormley and Sons in Sacramento, CA. Service and internment at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento, CA on February 8, 2021 at noon. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity or the Humane Society or SPCA.