Dolan Augustus Buchanan Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rosalyn, and their blended family of 3 sons, Paul (Kelli) Restivo of Jacksonville, Jason Buchanan of Lecanto, and Jeffrey Buchanan of Tampa; 2 grandsons, Addison and Brody Restivo of Jacksonville; step-grandchildren, Alexa Marvin of Roswell, GA, Ethan Marvin of Louisville, KY; a sister, Glenda Hart of Mayo; 2 brothers, Stacy Buchanan of Live Oak, Cory (Ginny) Buchanan of Mayo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Dolan & Colleen Buchanan of Mayo.

Dolan was raised in Tampa, but spent his childhood summers in Mayo helping his grandmothers, uncles and aunts harvest tobacco, and credits his Uncle Lavere Buchanan with teaching him to drive, on a tractor no less. During elementary school, he practically lived on the North Seminole Little League field. Through his church, he played fast pitch softball and basketball (proudly pointing out he once scored 52 points in one game). At Sligh Jr High and Hillsborough High School, he was an avid athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball, track (high jump) and field (team mile), becoming lifelong friends with his fellow teammates. After high school, he played regional football for the Tampa Rangers in the Florida State League, and began his career at General Telephone.

In March 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating from Avionics Maintenance School in Biloxi, MS, he was assigned to the 49th TAC Fighter Squadron in Germany, working on radio equipment for F-105 Thunder Chiefs, C-47 Gooney Birds, rescue helicopters and other aircraft. While in Germany, he became an Air Police Augmentee and served on the Prevent Abort Team, responding to radio troubles that could cause an aircraft to abort a mission. He volunteered for Vietnam so a married airman would not have to go. In Cam Ranh Bay, he was assigned to the 12th TAC Fighter Wing Avionics Maintenance Squadron, working on F-4 Phantoms.

Discharged from the USAF in 1969, he returned to Tampa and his job at General Telephone, which later became GTE, which then became Verizon. During the course of his 29+ year career, he wore many hats, including Central Office Tech, Supervisor, Supply Coordinator and finally Verizon's Logistics & Warehouse Manager for the State of Florida. While working full time, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree, graduating with honors from Southeastern Nova University in March 2000. He also played fast pitch softball with Tampa's Cowboys until the late 1980s, when he traded softballs for golf balls (he wasn't too shabby with bowling balls either). In his spare time, he was a volunteer coach for baseball, fast pitch softball, basketball and golf at local schools in Tampa before moving to Jacksonville 12 years ago. He was an avid reader, especially history, biographies and fictional espionage. He loved being with family, gardening, walking on the beach, and attending concerts and theatrical performances. Dolan was a jokester, a hugger, a benign flirt, and a kind man who loved with an open heart.

His family would like to thank the compassionate team members of the VA Health Care System in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Community Hospice & Palliative Care, McGraw Center for Caring and JFRD Station 27's Fall Assistance for helping us on Nov. 17th & 28th.

A visitation will be held on December 22, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, located at 940 Cesery Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida, 32211.

Following the visitation, a Celebration of Life with JSO Chaplain Cory McDonald will take place at the same venue starting at 11:00 am.

A committal service will be conducted at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32218, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm on the same day.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Community Hospice & Palliative Care (4266 Sunbeam Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32257) or to K9s for Warriors (donate.k9sforwarriors.org).