Edward L. Buchanan, 92, of Ashland, died Thursday in Woodland Oaks Health Care Facility.
He was born in Burnside on June 8, 1918. He was the son of the late Edd and Lola Lovell Buchanan. He moved to Ashland in 1920 and attended Ashland city schools and Ashland Junior College. He Served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy for four years during World War II.
After the war ended, he obtained a Bachelors of Music degree in Composition from Chicago Musical College in 1949 and joined the staff at Ashland Community College as a music instructor the same year. He did graduate work at the College of Music in Cincinnati and earned a Masters of Arts degree in Music from Marshall University. Mr. Buchanan founded his recording studio business, Buchanan Recording and Sound in 1953 on a part-time basis while teaching at ACC and went full-time into the sound system business in 1960, later incorporating the business as Buchanan Sound and Communications, Inc. After retiring from his academic and sound system careers, he began a stringed instrument repair business at age 82.
Music was always a major part of Mr. Buchanans life. In addition to directing the Ashland Community College Civic Chorus for many years, he directed several local church choirs including First Baptist of Ashland, Summit Baptist, Normal Presbyterian, First Baptist of Ironton, and First Methodist of Ironton. He also directed the Ashland Junior College Civic Orchestra, Ashland Male Chorus, and the Tri-State Oratorio Choir. He wrote many choral arrangements in addition to many orignal compositions. During the 1970s he composed the music for two major local productions, the Elks bicentennial program United We Stand, which was recognized as one of the top bicentennial programs at the Elks grand conventions and Carson County, which included 24 original songs.
In addition to his directing and composing accomplishments, he also played string bass in the Chicago Musical College Symphony Orchestra, Northwestern University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Charleston (WV) Symphony Orchestra, Huntington (WV) Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and numerous dance bands in the Chicago and local Tri-State areas including the Harry Dodson Sextet.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Olga Guerra Buchanan, and a sister, Glenda Buchanan Mossman. He is survived by two daughters, Leslie Buchanan Wermeling (Andrew) and Melinda Buchanan Sartwell; three grandchildren, Madeline Wermeling, Kellie Sartwell Buchelman and John Edward Sartwell; one sister, Eda Rae Thornbury and a niece, Gwendolyn Thornbury Frazier (Donald). He is also survived by dear friends Lucille Kazee, Perry Madden, Amanda and Ellen.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland with Reverend Harold Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park with military rites by American Legion, Kenova Post 93.
Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be sent to Alzheimers Association, Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter, 3703 Taylorsville Road, Suite 102, Louisville, KY 40220-1330 or the Boyd County Animal Shelter, 1025 Bob McCullough Drive, Ashland, KY 41102.
Online condolences may be made to steenfuneralhome.com
