Thomas Lawrence Buchanan

Thomas Lawrence Buchanan (63) died on February 18, 2014 at his home in Bluffton, SC surrounded by his family. He was born on September 11, 1950 in Aberdeen, Maryland to the late Robert and Mary Buchanan. He graduated from Meritt Hutton High School in Thornton, Colorado in 1968. Tom joined the United States Navy in 1969, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer, completing 20 years of honorable service before retiring in 1988. He received an AA in Liberal Arts and an AS in Education from Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Tom was employed as a Facilities Engineer at major corporations in Texas and Georgia. He married Melissa Matzner Buchanan in 2004, and they moved to Bluffton, South Carolina in 2006. Upon Tom's retirement in 2009, he became a Master Certified RV Repair Technician, and opened his own business, Reliable RV Repair. Tom was never happier than when he was on the water sailing or traveling in his RV. He was a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, and enjoyed NASCAR racing. Tom is survived by his wife Melissa of Bluffton, South Carolina, three daughters, Shellie DeLeon (Edward) of Mathis, Texas, Rachael Dale (Aaron) of Maple Lake, Minnesota, and Jackie Gray (Michael) of Yukon, Oklahoma; three brothers, Robert Buchanan of New Braunfels, Texas, Gerald Buchanan of Bealeton, Virginia and James Buchanan of San Antonio, Texas; eight grandchildren, one great grandson, several nieces and nephews and three beloved Basset Hounds, Lucy, Angel and Chester George. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Walterboro, South Carolina. Burial will be held at a later date in Pocomoke City, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Amedisys Hospice Care, 203-A & 203-B Eddie Chasteen Drive, Walterboro, SC 29488. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Walterboro, South Carolina. Burial will be held at a later date in Pocomoke City, Maryland.