Darrell Buchanan

Dr. Darrell Shirley Buchanan, Colonel US Army, Retired (1933-2024)

Darrell Shirley "Buck" Buchanan passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in Sanford, FL at the age of 91.

Born in Tyler, TX on May 15, 1933 to Carl and Fannie Buchanan, he attended Baylor University and the University of Arkansas Medical School, where he met his wife, Frances.

Commissioned in the US Army Medical Corps, he began his Neurology residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, where he and Frances married. Throughout his career, his performance reviews acknowledged his character and talent, with remarks such as: "This is one of the most outstanding officers I have ever known"; "Would fight to get him."; "He is, in my opinion, the best Chief of Neurology Service in the Army." "He has made the Letterman neurology training program the most sought after in the Army."; and "This man is one of the Army Medical Department's greatest assets."

Retiring from the Army in 1978 from his final role as Chief of Psychiatry and Neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he chose Cumberland, MD to begin private practice. Cumberland became home for the next 46 years, and he took advantage of nearby nature to pursue his favorite hobbies of snowboarding and windsurfing, as well as indulging his lifelong love of music by playing the euphonium in the Potomac Concert Band.

As distinguished as his career was, he was always fully engaged with family, the ultimate fun dad (camping, skiing, boating) and quintessential example of character. He was a teacher at heart, evidenced by, in his later years, frequently emailing his children and grandchildren some recommended "light reading" with titles such as "A diachronic parallelism between Pre-socratic Thought and Philosophy and the Natural Sciences".

Darrell is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances; his children Deborah (Robert) Barnes, Leslie Johnson, Linda Buchanan and Michael (Wendy) Buchanan; his grandchildren Michael (Kelsey) Johnson, Rachel Johnson, David (Ashley) Buchanan, Elizabeth (Michael) Kennedy; and great-grandchildren Ava, William, Audrey and Theodore; and by his sister, Martha (Hunter) Douglas.