Reverend Ralph L. Buchanan February 21, 1912 - May 7, 2012 The Reverend Ralph L. Buchanan, age 100, of Spruce Pine, peacefully went to be with his Lord on Monday, May 7, 2012. He was born February 21, 1912, the eldest of eleven children of the late Martha McKinney Buchanan and the late Eden V. Buchanan. He grew up in the Powder Mill Community of Avery County, North Carolina. He attended the local schools including Lees-McRae and was a graduate of King College, Bristol, Tennessee, Class of 1938, and Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, Class of 1941. On August 26, 1941, Rev. Buchanan was married to Flora Margaret McGoogan, of St. Pauls, North Carolina, who preceded him in death on July 4, 2000. Surviving is his son, Daniel E. Buchanan of Anderson, SC, and his daughter, Martha Lee Buchanan Smith, of Spruce Pine. Four grandchildren, Darren Buchanan and his wife Joy of Frederick, MD; Kelley-Marie Sierra and her husband Jonathan of Chatsworth, GA; LeeAnna Smith Hungerford and her husband James of Memphis, TN, and Sarah Margaret Smith of Bakersville, NC; three great-grandchildren, Alex Isaac Buchanan and Andrew Jacob Buchanan of Frederick, MD, and Emory Miller Smith of Bakersville, NC; a brother, Sanford Buchanan of Rolla, MO; and four sisters, Carrie Higgins of Northville, MI ; Doris Matthews of Asheville, NC; Mary Buchanan of Spruce Pine, NC, and Lucy Smith of the Ingalls Community, Avery County, NC. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents and his beloved wife, Margaret, two brothers, the late Albert Buchanan and the late Richard Buchanan, and three sisters, the late Mabel Freeman, the late Alma Campbell, and the late Amanda Jones preceded him in death. Mr. Buchanan, an ordained Presbyterian minister, served churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He also served five years as Superintendent of Home Missions for Winston Salem Presbytery, six years as Chairman of Evangelism for the Synod of North Carolina, and twelve years as Executive Presbyter and Parish Director for Piedmont Presbytery in South Carolina. In 1955 he had the honor of opening the United States Senate with prayer in response to an invitation of the Senate Chaplain, Dr. Fredrick Brown Harris. He was voted the privilege of the floor for the day. Rev. Buchanan was pastor to two Governors of the State of North Carolina. During his ministry, he started two new churches, First Presbyterian Church, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, and North Anderson Presbyterian Church, Anderson, South Carolina. He also was instrumental in locating and buying a three hundred sixty-two acre tract of land in Transylvania County, North Carolina, and building a church camp for Piedmont Presbytery. When the Presbytery met to dedicate the camp, it gave Mr. Buchanan a great and pleasant surprise by voting to name the camp in his honor, "Camp Buc." Mr. Buchanan retired from active ministry in June 1978, at which time he and Margaret moved to Spruce Pine, North Carolina where he spent the next twenty-two years supplying the vacant churches in Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey Counties. He also worked with Habitat for Humanity for twelve years, and then with Hospice of Mitchell County for five years. Rev. Buchanan was a member of Western North Carolina Presbytery and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine. He was a charter member of the Spruce Pine Hiking Club, the Chargers and Rechargers. Services celebrating the life and ministry of Rev. Buchanan will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 2 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, Spruce Pine, North Carolina, with Rev. Bill Sweetser officiating. Internment will follow at the Spruce Pine Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Webb Funeral Home Wednesday, May 9th from 6 PM until 8 PM. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Ralph and Margaret Buchanan Memorial Scholarship Fund, King College, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, Tennessee 37620; or to Hospice of Mitchell County, PO Box 38, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777, or to Camp Buc, 4730 Upper Whitewater Road, Sapphire, NC 28774. The McDougald Funeral Home is running this obituary as a courtesy. If you would like to leave a condolence, you may do so by visiting, www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com