William Edgar Buchanan's Obituary
BUCHANAN, WILLIAM EDGAR born June 5, 1919, in Rural Robertson County, Texas in a house partially constructed of logs hewn by his grandfather to parents, William Harmon Buchanan and Cletus Agnes Starkey. Buck grew up on the family farm and attended public schools in nearby Franklin and New Baden. As a young man he joined the CCC, working on state and national parks across the southwestern US. In 1938 he joined the US Army as an enlisted man, transferring to The Army Air Corp. Commissioned as an officer and trained as a navigator on a B-17, he served in the 381st Bomber Group of the Eighth Air Force, flying 33 missions over Europe in “Miss Abortion”, earning The Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the EAME ribbon with Bronze star. On July 6, 1943 Buck married the love of his life, Margaret Jane Spinsby of St. Louis, MO. After the war, they settled in St Louis where they raised their family. He worked for the Defense Mapping Agency as a cartographer, retiring in 1975. He also served 20 years in the Air Force reserve, achieving the permanent rank of Lt. Col. Retiring to Nacogdoches, Texas, Buck and Jane lived there until 1985 when they moved to Garland, Texas to be closer to family. He died on October 28 2012, in Richardson, Texas, family at his side, at the age of 93. Preceded in death by his parents and sister, Maxine Barnett of New Baden. He is survived by his wife of 69 years Margaret Jane Buchanan of Richardson, and Brother, James Buchanan of Neosho, MO; Three children, Col Dr. William E. “Chuck” Buchanan USAFR of Stevensville, Montana, Cynthia Jane Marriott of Kansas City, MO and Barbara Sue Snyder, RN of Allen, Texas; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Restland Funeral Home, Wednesday October 31 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A private service will be held at the DFW National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that gifts be made to the American Cancer Society.
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