Obituary: William S. Buchanan Jr.

William S. "Bucky" Buchanan Jr. died June 25, he was 92.

Mr. Buchanan was born December 17, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York where he spent his youth. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1937 and from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. in 1941. After entering the Army, he joined the Air Corps and served in Africa and Italy flying P-40 and P-47 escort planes in Egypt, Sicily and Italy as part of the 316th squadron.

Mr. Buchanan married the love of his life, Madolyn Shiels of Los Angeles, California in 1944. Following military service, he became the owner of a small manufacturing company in New Jersey until his retirement to Longboat Key, Florida in 1978. For many years he resided at Plymouth Harbor where he had also been a member of the Longboat Key and Bird Key Yacht Clubs. He loved all of his friends at Plymouth Harbor as well as the staff in both the Callahan Assisted Living Center where he lived for 3 years and the Smith Care Center where he spent his last days. Always the patriot, he prized his view of Old Glory flying on the Plymouth Harbor flagpole just outside his window.

Mr. Buchanan was well known for his sunny disposition and appreciation of a good joke. His "keep smiling" motto and happy face drawing was a welcome closing to all communication with him, written or verbal. He valued his family, friendships and war experiences above all else, maintaining an enthusiastic interest in all of those through his last days. He will be sorely missed by those who loved him.

Mr. Buchanan was preceeded in death by his wife, Mati Buchanan.

He is survived by Lynn "Lindy" Buchanan Heim in Chatham, N.J. She now resides in Wilmot, New Hampshire with her husband, Craig Heim. Mr. Buchanan is also survived by a granddaughter, Laura Heim Weiss and her husband Neil of San Rafael, California and a grandson, Craig Heim Jr. of Hopkinton, Mass. and his wife Ellen Broshek Heim, formerly of Madison, N.J. and 4 great grandsons.

A private memorial service is planned in December at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida.

Memorial donations may be made online to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org or the Salvation Army at www.donate.salvationarmyusa.org. Please contact your local DAV or Salvation Army location for additional information.