C. EARL BUCHAN
Died July 31, 2015
Calvin Earl "Buck" Buchan, 77, of Elm City, died Friday, July 31, 2015.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ, 2615 Tilghman Road North, Wilson. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. in Wayne Memorial Park, U.S. 117 South, Goldsboro.
Buck was well-known and respected in the trucking industry.
He was designated certified director of safety, and voted "Safety Director of the Year" in 1984 and again in 2002 by the North Carolina Motor Carriers Safety Council.
He began his career in 1956 immediately after graduating from Brogden High School in Wayne County. He logged more than 1.25 million miles without any chargeable accidents during his years driving from 1956 to 1962 and then driving for Kemp Furniture Industries in Goldsboro from 1962 to 1973.
He served as transportation manager with Kemp from 1973 to 1988, then became director of safety for Green Arrow Motor Express /Weyerhauser in Rocky Mount from 1988 to 2000. He ended his career at Barnes Transportation in Wilson from 2000 to 2008 as safety director.
His work at the professional level with regard to highway safety began when he joined the North Carolina Safety Security and Personnel Council in 1973.
He was past chairman of the NCTA Safety Management Council, secretary for the Down East Chapter of the Safety Council, member of the ATA Safety Management Council Accident Board of Review and as a member of the National Committee for Motor Fleet Supervisor Training.
His greatest professional accomplishment was being awarded the prestigious and coveted "Director of Safety" Award in 2005 by the North American Transportation Management Institute from the Integrated Transportation Safety and Security at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
As much as Buck loved his profession, he loved his family even more. He was devoted to his wife of 41 years, Claudette Davis Buchan, and beloved father to his five children, Vickie B. Borg (Glenn) of Elm City, Earlene Buchan of Southern Pines, Susan B. Bowen (Mike) of Goldsboro, Belinda B. Curatulo (Al) of Pikeville and Calvin Earl Buchan Jr. (Jeannie) of Goldsboro.
He was the best Papa ever to his 15 grandchildren, Hadley and Gabrielle Borg, Kelly and Ryan Cosgrove (Sarah), Parker Bowen, Holly Solis (Jose), Kelsey Rae Capps, Jessica and Robbie King, Ceb, Amber, Caleb and Brian Buchan (Shawn) and Chelsi and Caden Castro.
He also leaves to cherish six great-grandchildren, Ben and Nate Solis, Rylan and Lillyana Cosgrove and Ethan and Tyler Buchan.
He had a special bond with his siblings, Mary Ann Jones of Mount Olive and Gene Buchan (Carolyn) of Charlotte, as well as several special nieces and nephews.
Buck was known for his character, kindness, humor, work ethic and his love for others.
He had a green thumb, which, unfortunately, only two of his five children inherited.
His absence will forever be felt, as we long to hear his jokes, his laughter and his love. We rejoice, however, that he has been made whole, and we will see him again one day.
The family will be at Wilson Memorial Service Sunday 6 to 7:30 p.m. and other times at 5908 Nobleman Court, Elm City.
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, N.C., 27609.
Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive North, Wilson, N.C., 237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on August 2, 2015 11:11 AM