Dale E. Buchanan

Memorial services were held 11:00, Saturday, April 2, 2005 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Iowa. Rev. Richard Wallarab officiated.

Family visitation and a meal were held following the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church.

Burial of the cremains will be at later date at the Old Cadet Chapel Columbarium at West Point, NY.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield, or the American Heart Association and may be mailed in care of: Stanley Buchanan 22952 87th St. Blakesburg, IA 52536

Dale Eldon Buchanan was born on November 20, 1918 in Chanute, Kansas to Guy Roland and Hazel (Coonrad) Buchanan. He graduated from High School in Chanute in 1936, Kemper Military School in Boonville, MO in 1938, and from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1942. Additionally, he earned a Masters of Science degree in applied mathematics at the University of Iowa in 1967.

He married Orpha Ackerman on May 29, 1942 in the Old Cadet Chapel at West Point. They were the parents of three children. Orpha passed away November 2, 2004 in Fairfield.

Dale was a U.S. Army veteran, retiring as a Colonel of artillery after 21 years of service. He served in Europe during World War II, in the Occupation of Japan and the Korean Conflict. During his military service, he graduated from the Command and General Staff School, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Army War College. Dale taught mathematics at West Point Military Academy for 3 years and served on the staff and faculty of the Command and General Staff College for 4 years.

After retiring from the military, Dale taught mathematics at Parsons College for 10 years and afterwards for French-Reneker Associates Consulting Engineers for 8 years.

Colonel Dale Buchanan was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Elks Club, the Military Officers Association of America and the USMA Association of Graduates. Dale had served on the Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission, the Jefferson Public Health Advisory Committee, and briefly on the Veterans Affairs Commission.

Survivors include his children and their families; Colonel (Ret)Timothy Buchanan, of Colorado Springs, CO, Stanley Buchanan of Blakesburg, IA and Janet Pitt of Culpeper, VA. Dale was grandfather to 11 grandchildren; Christi, Brad, Stacey, Kimmie, Kristyn, Shawna, Cary, Erika, Tressa, Jennifer & Justin, and great-grandfather to 16. He also has one brother, Paul R. Buchanan of Lubbock, TX.

Preceding him in death are his parents and his beloved wife, Orpha.