John B. Buchanan
November 8, 1934 - August 11, 2014
John Butler Buchanan passed away on August 11, 2014 at The Summit at Lakeway in Austin, Texas. Born in Grove, OK on November 8, 1934, to Joe and Clye Buchanan (nee Seabourn) on their leased farm, 1 1/2 half-miles northwest of Grove, OK. John was a child of the Great Depression. John was the first of his family to go to college, graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1958 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. While at OU, John met Glenda Ann Ponder and they were married on September 6, 1958. After a short stint in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (which included John and Glenda's first of many moves over their 43-year marriage), John took a job with Carter Oil Company (a precursor of Exxon-Mobil). In 1960, John and Glenda's first son, John Joseph, was born, followed by twins Scot Charles and Trey Michael in 1964. From 1958 until 1967, John and his family moved seven times, living in small oil towns across Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Illinois. In 1967 John and Glenda - with three boys under seven in tow - took off for one of the greatest adventures of their lives: moving to Australia. Australia was the first of several overseas assignments (including Caracas, Venezuela, London; and Stavanger, Norway) that John took in his 27-year career with what is now Exxon Mobil.
In 1979, John ran for and was elected to the Spring Brand School Board, where he served for six years, including serving one year as board President. John also was elected to Harris County Board of Education for several years. John took early retirement in 1987 - but that didn't slow him down. Because of his deep commitment to giving back to his community, John in 1996, in cooperation with Memorial-Hermann Hospital, established HERO an organization that provides assistance to the elderly in west Houston.
John is proceed [sic preceded] in death by his beloved wife Glenda, his brothers Jackie and Mike, and his parents.
He is survived by his three sons (John, Scot and Trey), their spouses (Bill, Michelle and Adrian, respectively), and eight grandchildren: Matthew, Davis, Madison, Ellie, Duncan, Douglas, Ellie, Lauren and Cade.
Memorial Services celebrating John's life will be Friday, August 15, 2014 at Memorial Drive Christian Church, 11750 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 at 10:00am with Dr. John Regan officiating. Prior to services John's family will have gathered for a private comitial service. Following John's memorial service his family and friends will gather for a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, John's family asks that donations be made to HERO, 12335 Kingsride, Box 230, Houston, TX 77024.