A funeral service will be held Thursday for Victor Earl Buchanan of 58 Liberty St., Fredonia, who passed away at 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in St. Paul’s, West Salem Township. He was 89.

Victor was born in Fredonia on July 6, 1920. He was a son of Earl and Lillian (Loveland) Buchanan. 

He was a 1938 graduate of the former Fredonia High School and attended Albright College in Reading, Pa. In addition to playing drums in his high school band, he also was a drummer in a small band that performed at many local establishments.

He had been a member of Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department and the Lion’s Club, and served on the Fredonia council.

He was a member of Fredonia Methodist Church.

He was a 50-year member of Mercer Hebron Lodge 575 of Free and Accepted Masons and the Scottish Rite Consistory of New Castle, and a member of the Zem Zem Shrine of Erie.

On June 6, 1942, he married Dorothy (Magee) Buchanan.

He left employment at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. in 1943 to serve in the Army Air Corps as a B-24 pilot during World War II.

He was a plant superintendent for Seidle’s Sand and Gravel plant in Clarks Mills until he established his own business. For almost 50 years he enjoyed his plumbing and heating business, specializing in sheet metal work. In later years he was noted for his custom-made cupolas and artistic wind art.

His family was his life and he enjoyed the moments he could share with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was an avid race fan and attended the Indy 500 for more than 40 years with three generations of family members. 

He is survived by: two daughters, Linda Sunderlin and her husband James, Fredonia; and Paula Paden and her husband John, Fairview, Erie County; a son, Richard “Topper” Buchanan and his wife Eileen, Fredonia; eight grandchildren, Monica Krieder and her husband Frank, Amanda Buchanan, Megan Keating and her husband Richard, Katie Roth and her husband Paul, Jennifer Shellenbarger and her husband Dave, Christopher Sunderlin, Kayla Paden and Dan Paden; and eight great-grandchildren: Allison and Adam Krieder, Andrew Keating, Alden, Conor, and Maddie Roth, and Ava and Lila Shellenbarger. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Dorothy (Magee); and two brothers, Max Buchanan, Greenville; and Joseph Buchanan, Sharon.

The family has suggested that memorial contributions may be made to Fredonia United Methodist Church, Church Street, Fredonia, PA 16124.

BUCHANAN