Bucher Family Fund
The Bucher Family Fund, established in 2015 with an initial $20,000 donation from the children of Samuel and Margaret Bucher, supports initiatives in Randolph, Tucker, Pendleton, and Barbour Counties that promote community development, health, gardening, natural resource use, alternative energy, historical preservation, and spirituality.
TYPE OF FUND: Donor Advised
DATE ESTABLISHED: October 15, 2015
APPROVED: October 21, 2015
PURPOSE: To support initiatives that promote community development, health, gardening, use of natural resources, alternative energy, historical preservation, and spirituality.
DISTRIBUTION: On the recommendation of the donors and final approval by the Grants Committee and Board of Directors of TCF.
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: Randolph, Tucker, Pendleton, and Barbour Counties
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment, or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: Initial funding of $20,000 was provided by the children of Samuel and Margaret Bucher (stepchildren of Kathryn Bucher): Sarah Ellen (Herb) Myers, Jonathan (Esther) Bucher, Mary Beth (Lester) Lind, and Dan (Judy) Bucher. The Bucher family recognizes that many people share the interests and values identified in the fund’s purpose and invite others to support these initiatives by contributing to the fund.
BACKGROUND: In 1946, Samuel Jacob and Margaret Mae Mininger Bucher, a young doctor and nurse, left their home in southeastern Pennsylvania to move to Harman, West Virginia. During World War II, this area was designated a "national medical emergency" due to the lack of doctors, and the Buchers, as pacifists, chose public service over military service by committing to practice medicine in an underserved region.
Dr. Bucher’s medical career spanned 44 years (1946-1990), during which he delivered over 1,500 babies. In the early years, he made many house calls, and his "Mountain Clinic" provided inpatient rooms for obstetrical patients. While his primary clinic was in Harman, he also operated branch offices in Riverton and Davis. Over the years, many nurses assisted him, including his second wife, Kathryn Ellen Hostetter, whom he married after Margaret’s passing in 1987. Kathryn had worked alongside the Buchers for over 30 years and was beloved in the community.
Samuel and Margaret were the parents of four children: Sarah Ellen, Jonathan, Mary Beth, and Joseph Daniel. They raised their families with a deep appreciation for service, learning, and community. The Buchers played an integral role in the local Mennonite church and community efforts. Margaret was a co-founder of the Pioneer Memorial Library in Harman and worked to preserve local crafts by opening The Old Mill to the public for tours, workshops, and craft sales. She also learned to weave and promoted weaving classes.
The natural beauty of West Virginia was a lifelong source of joy for the Buchers, and they frequently shared their love of the outdoors with family and friends. Dr. Bucher’s early years of house calls introduced him to the most remote areas, and he often took family and friends on "truck trips"—back-of-the-truck adventures filled with picnics from Margaret’s bountiful garden.
Samuel and Margaret were innovators in their own ways. Dr. Bucher experimented with alternative energy, particularly water power, and was one of the first in the region to use two-way radios to improve communication and efficiency in his medical practice. Margaret’s passion was her garden, where she continuously experimented with new plants while preserving the heritage seeds of the region.
In honor of their parents' legacy, the Bucher children established this fund to continue their work in community development, health, gardening, natural resource use, alternative energy, historical preservation, and spirituality.
