Obituary of William Jefferson Buchanan

West Columbia: William Jefferson "Buck" Buchanan, Jr., 84, of West Columbia passed away Friday, December 27, 2013 at Lexington Medical Center after a short illness. The Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 3, 2014 at 11 o'clock at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, 1000 B Avenue, West Columbia, SC 29169. Pastors Wade Roof and Lavaughn Keisler will officiate. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073 is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church. Born in West Columbia, he was the son of the late William J. and Katie Shealy Buchanan. His education and football career at Clemson were interrupted by the Korean War. He later graduated from USC, but his blood remained orange. Buck had a distinguished career in both the South Carolina Air and Army National Guard. He joined the 110th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. It was formed at Congaree Air National Guard Base (McEntire) in 1950. Shortly after this the Air Guard Fighter Unit was mobilized. Upon returning from active duty in 1953, the 110th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron were disbanded. Personnel assigned to the unit were absorbed into the 169th Tactical Fighter Group, at which time Buck was employed as a Military Air Technician. He ultimately attained the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He was instrumental in forming the Air National Guard Federal Credit Union at Congaree, serving on its board of directors and as treasurer. Buck's cheerful disposition and ever-present willingness to be of assistance endeared him to Army and Air guardsmen across the state. Buck served as Commander of American Legion Post 79, Chairman of the City of West Columbia Zoning Commission, and was recently inducted into the Brookland Cayce Athletic Hall of Fame. Survivors include his daughter, Cindy Buchanan Simpson (Bill) of Columbia; son, Michael Buchanan (Kelly) of Orlando, Fl.; sister, Dene Shockley of Charlotte; granddaughters Katie and Marianne Simpson of Columbia. Buck was preceded in death by his parents and wife of nearly 50 years, Colene Mangum Buchanan.