William Wayne Buchanan

William W. Buchanan, 96, of Webster, TX, peacefully passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2015, after a short illness, he lived independently and still drove his car. He lived “The American Dream.” He grew up in the Oklahoma dust bowl and his Mother died when he was 5 years old. He joined the Army Air Corps in WWII and became a navigator and flight engineer. He owned auto repair and body shops in Los Angeles, CA and Houston. He and his wife, Marybelle, went to Europe in 1960, owned a 27 ft. boat, a Mooney airplane and all 4 of their children received graduate degrees. He also was an amateur inventor. He excelled in retirement and cared for his wife during a lengthy illness. He joined the Commemorative Air Force, participating in many air shows. He volunteered at the Clear Lake Regional Medical Center as “The Candy Man” and won the 2008 Volunteer Humanitarian Award. He also volunteered at NASA. He received 2nd place as an outstanding volunteer in the National Fritz Award for HCA Hospitals. Many astronauts in Clear Lake befriended him and he was invited to many space shuttle liftoffs and was able to attend the 2011 space shuttle liftoff in Orlando. Earlier this year, he was flown to Washington, D.C. as part of the WWII Honor Flights; escorted by his good friend Rene Palmer Armstrong. He received many other awards for his military service. He loved people and life. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Marybelle. William is survived by his four children, Lynn, Janice, Chris and David; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be private. The family of William W. Buchanan invites you to leave your memories and thoughts online at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/forest-park-east-funeral-home/en-us/index.page .