Byron Buhner passed away on February 27th after a 2-year battle with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). He had just turned 72 on February 19th. Byron was born in Hammond, Indiana to Betty and John C. Buhner. He grew up between Bloomington and Gary, “the region” graduating from Lew Wallace High School. Byron worked in the steel mills and proudly served in the Army before completing his Bachelor of Arts and his Master of Science Degrees at Indiana University. He was an avid supporter of the Liberal Arts and served on the Dean’s Development Council and a member for the school’s student development program. To support veterans, Byron created and funded the Buhner2 Scholarship in 2014. This scholarship was founded in recognition and celebration of members of America’s armed forces to provide student veterans majoring in Liberal Arts discipline with support to obtain their degrees and move forward toward accomplishing their professional and personal goals.
Byron was President and CEO of the Indiana Blood Center for more than three decades before his retirement at the end of 2014. Byron was active at all levels of America’s Blood Centers (ABC) even before it was ABC, serving on many committees and working groups, the Board of Directors and as an officer. He was ABC’s President in 1998-2000. He had pivotal roles in support of community-based blood banking during a time of incredible ferment that included all the events surrounding our responses to HIV and hepatitis in the blood supply.
During Byron’s tenure as president and CEO of the blood center, he also helped lead several national initiatives. He was a founding member of Group Services for America’s Blood Centers (GSABC), a member-owned group purchasing cooperative designed to meet supply needs of blood centers across the country. He was involved in the creation and served as Chairman, Board of Directors of Community Blood Centers’ Exchange (BCx) a reciprocal insurance company formed and owned by independent community blood centers to provide blood centers long-term stability with cost savings shared by its owners/insureds.
Always a source of extreme clarity and transparency when addressing complicated issues, Byron mentored every member of the ABC leadership over a period of at least 20 years and was an invaluable counselor to many. Byron was grateful for his career and always said he never worked a day in his life.
He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a true friend to those of us who were fortunate to know him. Byron loved all forms of motorized transportation from land to sea to air. For those of you who believe in an afterlife, Byron is now riding an amazing celestial Harley Davidson so the next time you look up in the sky and see contrails, that will be him riding by.
Byron is survived by his wife, Terri C. Buhner; son Zachery A. Buhner (Mary Susan); daughter Rebecca B. Buhner; stepson Garrett M. Nale (Nikki); sister Carol Ward (Charles); brother John C. Buhner (Sally). Also holding a special place in his heart was his nephew John Dalton Buhner and brother and sister-in-law Gary and Debbie Chapman. He is also survived by grandchildren Susannah, Caroline, Amelia, Amani, Harper, and Allie.
Visitation for Byron will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at Leppert Mortuary - Nora, 740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240, followed by a memorial service at 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Byron’s memory may be made to the IU Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460 with a note for the Buhner2 Scholarship, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, https://www.lls.org or Blood donations are always encouraged.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leppertmortuary.com for the Buhner family.
