Harl Clyde Buchanan was born in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, about 15 miles north of Clarksville, on January 5, 1922 to James Maurice Buchanan and Mabel (Payne) Buchanan, along with a twin brother, Carl. His schooling up to 8th grade was in a one-room school, often with his father as his teacher. After 8th grade, Harl and his brothers attended Clarksville High School. To catch the bus for school, the brothers had to hike one and a half miles down the mountain each day and then climb back up the mountain in the afternoon.
After graduation from high school in 1939, Harl remained with his parents to help with the farming until January 1941 when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC sent him by train to Idaho where he worked on dam and road construction in Marsing and Mud Flat. He left the CCC in June 1942 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September, 1942.
In the Marines, Harl was selected for training in radio and radar. Following his training in Florida and at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, he spent three months in Chicago teaching Elementary Radio to new trainees. In August 1944, Harl joined the VMSB 343 Air Squadron and was sent to Midway Island in the fall of 1944. He spent about a year on Midway Island serving as an Aviation Radio Technician for the squadron.
After his discharge from the Marines in February 1946, Harl enrolled in the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. While a student there, he made use of his Marine radio training by building a radio transmitter and broadcasting to the campus from his dorm room. After two years of school, he decided to pursue a Pharmacy degree, which was not offered at the College. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman in January 1948 and graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in June 1950.
Following his college graduation, Harl was hired by Walgreens Drug Company and started as an Assistant Manager at a Walgreens store in Waco, Texas. In July 1951, he was sent to Abilene, Texas for a temporary three-week assignment. There he met Almeta Merle Wyatt who worked in the Abilene Walgreens store, and the three-week assignment became a two-year stay in Abilene. Harl and Almeta married on November 9, 1952. In the fall of 1953, shortly after the birth of their first child, James Travis, Harl was transferred to San Angelo to serve as a Store Manager. While in San Angelo, their second child, Kathy Lynn, was born in 1955.
Following another transfer in July 1955 to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harl decided to change his career to pharmaceutical salesman to have more time at home with his family. He was hired by the Upjohn Company in January 1956 and was sent to Roswell, New Mexico to serve the southeast region of the state. Harl and Almeta's third child, Melanie Kay, was born in Roswell in 1962. In April 1966, Harl was transferred to Denver to cover the southwest part of the city. The family moved to their current home in Bear Valley in September 1966. Harl retired from fulltime work in 1987 but continued with Upjohn part-time for several years. Harl enjoyed being a salesman because he enjoyed people, talking and listening to them, and swapping stories with them. He had a great sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh and feel comfortable.
In addition to all the activities associated with raising kids, Harl and Almeta participated in many social activities with friends and their church such as playing Bridge, square dancing, golfing, bowling, and softball. Harl enjoyed walking, especially along Bear Creek with Almeta, and he enjoyed trips to the mountains. For many years at home, he would entertain everyone with his guitar playing and his singing, often making up songs on the fly. In later years, he enjoyed telling stories about his life growing up in the Ozark Mountains, a life he was proud of for its uniqueness and the rich experiences it provided him.
Harl is survived by his wife, Almeta, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
harl,s plot is section 58, site 854.
After graduation from high school in 1939, Harl remained with his parents to help with the farming until January 1941 when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC sent him by train to Idaho where he worked on dam and road construction in Marsing and Mud Flat. He left the CCC in June 1942 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September, 1942.
In the Marines, Harl was selected for training in radio and radar. Following his training in Florida and at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, he spent three months in Chicago teaching Elementary Radio to new trainees. In August 1944, Harl joined the VMSB 343 Air Squadron and was sent to Midway Island in the fall of 1944. He spent about a year on Midway Island serving as an Aviation Radio Technician for the squadron.
After his discharge from the Marines in February 1946, Harl enrolled in the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. While a student there, he made use of his Marine radio training by building a radio transmitter and broadcasting to the campus from his dorm room. After two years of school, he decided to pursue a Pharmacy degree, which was not offered at the College. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman in January 1948 and graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in June 1950.
Following his college graduation, Harl was hired by Walgreens Drug Company and started as an Assistant Manager at a Walgreens store in Waco, Texas. In July 1951, he was sent to Abilene, Texas for a temporary three-week assignment. There he met Almeta Merle Wyatt who worked in the Abilene Walgreens store, and the three-week assignment became a two-year stay in Abilene. Harl and Almeta married on November 9, 1952. In the fall of 1953, shortly after the birth of their first child, James Travis, Harl was transferred to San Angelo to serve as a Store Manager. While in San Angelo, their second child, Kathy Lynn, was born in 1955.
Following another transfer in July 1955 to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harl decided to change his career to pharmaceutical salesman to have more time at home with his family. He was hired by the Upjohn Company in January 1956 and was sent to Roswell, New Mexico to serve the southeast region of the state. Harl and Almeta's third child, Melanie Kay, was born in Roswell in 1962. In April 1966, Harl was transferred to Denver to cover the southwest part of the city. The family moved to their current home in Bear Valley in September 1966. Harl retired from fulltime work in 1987 but continued with Upjohn part-time for several years. Harl enjoyed being a salesman because he enjoyed people, talking and listening to them, and swapping stories with them. He had a great sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh and feel comfortable.
In addition to all the activities associated with raising kids, Harl and Almeta participated in many social activities with friends and their church such as playing Bridge, square dancing, golfing, bowling, and softball. Harl enjoyed walking, especially along Bear Creek with Almeta, and he enjoyed trips to the mountains. For many years at home, he would entertain everyone with his guitar playing and his singing, often making up songs on the fly. In later years, he enjoyed telling stories about his life growing up in the Ozark Mountains, a life he was proud of for its uniqueness and the rich experiences it provided him.
Harl is survived by his wife, Almeta, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
harl,s plot is section 58, site 854.
Harl Clyde Buchanan was born in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, about 15 miles north of Clarksville, on January 5, 1922 to James Maurice Buchanan and Mabel (Payne) Buchanan, along with a twin brother, Carl. His schooling up to 8th grade was in a one-room school, often with his father as his teacher. After 8th grade, Harl and his brothers attended Clarksville High School. To catch the bus for school, the brothers had to hike one and a half miles down the mountain each day and then climb back up the mountain in the afternoon.
After graduation from high school in 1939, Harl remained with his parents to help with the farming until January 1941 when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC sent him by train to Idaho where he worked on dam and road construction in Marsing and Mud Flat. He left the CCC in June 1942 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September, 1942.
In the Marines, Harl was selected for training in radio and radar. Following his training in Florida and at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, he spent three months in Chicago teaching Elementary Radio to new trainees. In August 1944, Harl joined the VMSB 343 Air Squadron and was sent to Midway Island in the fall of 1944. He spent about a year on Midway Island serving as an Aviation Radio Technician for the squadron.
After his discharge from the Marines in February 1946, Harl enrolled in the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. While a student there, he made use of his Marine radio training by building a radio transmitter and broadcasting to the campus from his dorm room. After two years of school, he decided to pursue a Pharmacy degree, which was not offered at the College. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman in January 1948 and graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in June 1950.
Following his college graduation, Harl was hired by Walgreens Drug Company and started as an Assistant Manager at a Walgreens store in Waco, Texas. In July 1951, he was sent to Abilene, Texas for a temporary three-week assignment. There he met Almeta Merle Wyatt who worked in the Abilene Walgreens store, and the three-week assignment became a two-year stay in Abilene. Harl and Almeta married on November 9, 1952. In the fall of 1953, shortly after the birth of their first child, James Travis, Harl was transferred to San Angelo to serve as a Store Manager. While in San Angelo, their second child, Kathy Lynn, was born in 1955.
Following another transfer in July 1955 to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harl decided to change his career to pharmaceutical salesman to have more time at home with his family. He was hired by the Upjohn Company in January 1956 and was sent to Roswell, New Mexico to serve the southeast region of the state. Harl and Almeta's third child, Melanie Kay, was born in Roswell in 1962. In April 1966, Harl was transferred to Denver to cover the southwest part of the city. The family moved to their current home in Bear Valley in September 1966. Harl retired from fulltime work in 1987 but continued with Upjohn part-time for several years. Harl enjoyed being a salesman because he enjoyed people, talking and listening to them, and swapping stories with them. He had a great sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh and feel comfortable.
In addition to all the activities associated with raising kids, Harl and Almeta participated in many social activities with friends and their church such as playing Bridge, square dancing, golfing, bowling, and softball. Harl enjoyed walking, especially along Bear Creek with Almeta, and he enjoyed trips to the mountains. For many years at home, he would entertain everyone with his guitar playing and his singing, often making up songs on the fly. In later years, he enjoyed telling stories about his life growing up in the Ozark Mountains, a life he was proud of for its uniqueness and the rich experiences it provided him.
Harl is survived by his wife, Almeta, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
harl,s plot is section 58, site 854.
After graduation from high school in 1939, Harl remained with his parents to help with the farming until January 1941 when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC sent him by train to Idaho where he worked on dam and road construction in Marsing and Mud Flat. He left the CCC in June 1942 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September, 1942.
In the Marines, Harl was selected for training in radio and radar. Following his training in Florida and at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, he spent three months in Chicago teaching Elementary Radio to new trainees. In August 1944, Harl joined the VMSB 343 Air Squadron and was sent to Midway Island in the fall of 1944. He spent about a year on Midway Island serving as an Aviation Radio Technician for the squadron.
After his discharge from the Marines in February 1946, Harl enrolled in the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. While a student there, he made use of his Marine radio training by building a radio transmitter and broadcasting to the campus from his dorm room. After two years of school, he decided to pursue a Pharmacy degree, which was not offered at the College. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman in January 1948 and graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in June 1950.
Following his college graduation, Harl was hired by Walgreens Drug Company and started as an Assistant Manager at a Walgreens store in Waco, Texas. In July 1951, he was sent to Abilene, Texas for a temporary three-week assignment. There he met Almeta Merle Wyatt who worked in the Abilene Walgreens store, and the three-week assignment became a two-year stay in Abilene. Harl and Almeta married on November 9, 1952. In the fall of 1953, shortly after the birth of their first child, James Travis, Harl was transferred to San Angelo to serve as a Store Manager. While in San Angelo, their second child, Kathy Lynn, was born in 1955.
Following another transfer in July 1955 to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harl decided to change his career to pharmaceutical salesman to have more time at home with his family. He was hired by the Upjohn Company in January 1956 and was sent to Roswell, New Mexico to serve the southeast region of the state. Harl and Almeta's third child, Melanie Kay, was born in Roswell in 1962. In April 1966, Harl was transferred to Denver to cover the southwest part of the city. The family moved to their current home in Bear Valley in September 1966. Harl retired from fulltime work in 1987 but continued with Upjohn part-time for several years. Harl enjoyed being a salesman because he enjoyed people, talking and listening to them, and swapping stories with them. He had a great sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh and feel comfortable.
In addition to all the activities associated with raising kids, Harl and Almeta participated in many social activities with friends and their church such as playing Bridge, square dancing, golfing, bowling, and softball. Harl enjoyed walking, especially along Bear Creek with Almeta, and he enjoyed trips to the mountains. For many years at home, he would entertain everyone with his guitar playing and his singing, often making up songs on the fly. In later years, he enjoyed telling stories about his life growing up in the Ozark Mountains, a life he was proud of for its uniqueness and the rich experiences it provided him.
Harl is survived by his wife, Almeta, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
harl,s plot is section 58, site 854.
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