Arlen "Bruce" Buchanan

Arlen Bruce Buchanan, age 78, went home to be with the Lord on February 18, 2010, in his home in Lyle, WA. Bruce was born February 6, 1932 in Yakima, WA to Leo L. and Laura Mae (Hesp) Buchanan, the second of seven children.

Bruce grew up in Selah, WA and graduated from Selah High School in 1950. He attended Washington State College and then joined the Navy Cadet Program in 1952. After graduating from the Cadet Program he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. In the USMC he was stationed at Pensacola, FL, Cherry Point, NC, Corpus Christi, TX, Sandpoint, WA, and Osaka, Japan. He was part of the early days of military jet aviation flying the TV-2, F2H Banshee, F9F-5 Panther, F9F-6 Cougar, and A-4D Skyhawk as well as numerous prop aircraft.

After leaving Active Duty and transferring to the Reserve forces, Bruce signed on with a crop dusting company in the Yakima Valley where he had the opportunity to fly a Stearman bi-plane crop duster from Yakima to Nova Scotia, Canada to spray for the Spruce budworm. He returned to the Yakima Valley and continued to crop dust until 1959 when West Coast Airlines hired him as a commercial airline pilot. After 33 years of commercial flying for West Coast, Hughes Airwest, Republic and finally Northwest Airlines he reluctantly hung up his wings and retired. During his commercial career, he flew various aircraft including the DC-3, F-27, DC-9, A-320 and retired as a 747 Captain, he was a proud member of the airline family and his colleagues would agree that he had the “right stuff” and was what pilots call a “good stick”.

In 1959, while stationed in Cherry Point, NC, Bruce met and married Christine Tunstall, of Apex, NC. They moved to Boise, ID where their daughter Cheri Jo Buchanan was born. After eight years of marriage they divorced.

In 1970, Bruce married Karron Griffin. They had a daughter, Aimee Laura Buchanan and a son, Ian Monroe Buchanan. He was promoted to Captain and moved to Phoenix, AZ. After two years they returned to the Yakima Valley where he grew and maintained a pear orchard on his parents’ home place, while continuing to work for the airlines. Bruce was also an avid cattleman. He owned and operated a cattle and hay ranch in Selah from 1980 until 1999. Bruce was a lifetime NRA member & enjoyed hunting & competitive cowboy shooting.

Bruce fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing the historic Arivaca Ranch in Arivaca, AZ in 1999. While he was there he not only improved the ranch, he restored the pride the small community of Arivaca had in the ranch within which their town lies. He was an active member of Arivaca embracing the community, participating in numerous events and hosting Fourth of July and Christmas celebrations at his home. In 2007 he sold the Arivaca Ranch and moved to Lyle, WA, where he continued to support his community by actively participating in the local fire department fundraisers, and was a member of the Washington State and Klickitat County Cattlemen’s Association.

Bruce will be deeply missed by his wife of 40 years, Karron Buchanan and his three children, Cheri Buchanan Hedger (Greg) of Chandler, AZ, Aimee Ozanich (Brent) of Selah, WA and Ian Buchanan (Robin) of San Diego, CA. and his grandchildren Christopher and Sydney Hedger, Michael and Elise Ozanich and Gavin and Clara Buchanan, and his brothers and sisters Lynn Buchanan (Connie) of Yakima, Betty Hillstrom-Keller (Doug) of Selah, Kaye Patton of Dallas, TX, Marilyn Buchanan of Seattle, WA, Roger Buchanan of Judith Gap, MT, and Doug Buchanan of Fairbanks, AK as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Words cannot express our gratitude toward Judy Merrell and Hospice of the Gorge, Rev. Steve Barker, Pastor Myrin Bentz and Pastor Fred Neth for their care and guidance during this trying time, and toward Arlen and Sharon Aleckson and all Bruce’s family and friends who have gone out of their way to fill his last days with love and friendship and kept our family in their prayers.

In lieu of flowers donate to a charity of your choice.

We will celebrate our Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and Friend’s life Friday, February 26th at 2p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Yakima, Washington. Arrangements are under the care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home. To share a memory of Bruce visit, www.keithandkeith.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.