Obituary of George R. Buchanan

George R. Buchanan, 71, of Lebanon, Tennessee, died May 29 at the Williamson Medical Center in Franklin. He was born June 29, 1939, in Campbellsville, Kentucky, to the late Frank E. and Alene Jarboe Buchanan. He was a graduate of the University of Kentucky where he received both the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering as well as a Ph.D. from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He joined the faculty of the Tennessee Technological University Department of Engineering Science in 1965, serving as chairman from 1978-82 and then, following a one year appointment as visiting staff at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, returned to Tennessee Tech where he taught in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering until his death. Dr. Buchanan was a devoted educator who loved teaching and was highly respected by his students and peers. He served as a mentor and role model to numerous students during his career. He was also an accomplished researcher, having his research broadly published and referenced by his peers. He was a recipient of every TTU research related award. Out of the classroom he enjoyed his dogs, dancing, woodworking, carving, gardening and making dulcimers. He was a member of the Westland United Methodist Church. He is survived and loved by his wife of 19 years, Charlotte Chris Buchanan; sister, Barbara Buchanan Lewis of Louisville, Kentucky; stepsister and brother-in-law, Sarah Ellen and Donald Goff of Campbellsville, Kentucky; son, George Kevin Buchanan of Dallas, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Karen Ann and Tim Schneider of Phoenix, Arizona; son and daughter-in-law Joshua Graham and Desiree Buchanan of Chicago, Illinois; stepchildren, Brandy Walker of Florence, Alabama, and David Walker of Nashville, Tennessee; and eight grandchildren, Lauren E. Buchanan, George C. Buchanan, Oliver W. Buchanan, Jared Schneider, Jaden Schneider, Kelsey Detwiler, Tyler Slagle, and Trevor Walker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Ethel Buchanan, and brother-in-law, James E. Lewis. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Westland United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Dr. Buchanan may be made to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 2520 Elisha Avenue, Zion, Illinois 60099 or the Ray Kinslow Research Award Endowment, Tennessee Technological University, Box 5005, Cookeville, Tennessee 38506.