Gary L. Buffington

Family-Placed Death Notice

GARY L. BUFFINGTON Gary L. Buffington, age 57, of Atlanta passed away on July 11, 2003 from lymphoma. Since 1988, he had served as the Executive Vice President of the Industrial Distribution Association and from 1976-88 as Executive Vice President of the Southern Wholesalers Association and the Southern Industrial Distributors Association. He had been active in distribution industry affairs having served as Chairman of the Association Executives Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Wholesale Distributors, Washington, D.C. He had also served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Distribution Research and Education Foundation and on the Advisory Board of the Industrial Distribution Program at Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Georgia and American Society of Association Executives and the Human Rights Campaign. He was an active volunteer for 14 years with Project Open Hands and a faithful member of All Saints Episcopal Church. He graduated cum laude 1968 from The University of Georgia where he was elected to membership in both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. From 1968-1970, he served in the United States Army with service in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. A native of Lawrenceville, he is survived by his partner, Charles R. Rice of Atlanta; mother, Katherine P. Buffington of Lawrenceville; brothers and sisters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Buffington of Snellville, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Buffington of Lawrenceville and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Buffington of Stockholm, Sweden. Nieces and nephews include Emily Embry of Gainesville, Andrea Jones of Lawrenceville, Nikki and Matt Buffington of Lawrenceville, Breese, Brooks, Kathleen and Caroline Buffington of Stockholm, several aunts and uncles. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 14 at Spring Hill at 2:00. Interment at Gwinnett Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the residence, 1084 Berkshire Road Sunday, July 13, from 4 until 8 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Emmaus House of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, 1017 Capitol Avenue, SW, Atlanta, GA or the AIDS Survival Project, 139 Ralph McGill Blvd. Atlanta, Georgia or Trees for Paidea School, 1509 South Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street, 404-876-1022.