Orville Joseph Buchanan was born October 6, 1926, in Toppenish, Washington, to parents Fred and Josephine Buchanan. Orville died Saturday, August 18th, 2012, in Hermiston, Oregon, at the age of 85.

Orville spent his early years living in Echo, Butter Creek, and Ione before joining the U.S Army in 1945. At the end of World War II, he reenlisted and spent the remainder of his military career in Korea and occupied Japan. During his military career, he received the WWII Victory Medal, Occupation Medal for Japan and Good Conduct Medal. While in occupied Japan, he met and married Kikue Abe on July 27th, 1947. In November 1952, they left Japan with their two sons, Robert and Bruce and settled in Irrigon in 1953. Their third son, Wayne, was born in Hermiston, Oregon, in 1954. In August 2002, Kikue Mayko Buchanan passed at their home in Irrigon, Oregon.

After a short period of farming their property in Irrigon, Orville began working at McNary Dam in 1954 as a laborer and retired in 1981 as Resource Maintenance Foreman. He was actively involved in many community activities including the Irrigon volunteer fire department, school advisory board, park board, and Stokes Landing Senior Center. He will always be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father with few words leaving behind a legacy of unspoken sincerity, love, and kindness.

Orville married Alcy Lamb in 2006 in Lone Rock, Oregon, and they have since resided in Hermiston, Oregon.

Orville is survived by wife Alcy Lamb-Buchanan; sons and daughters-in-law Robert and Donna, Bruce and Adriana, and Wayne and Diane; seven grandchildren and their spouses: Russell and Toni Buchanan, Brian and Kristy Buchanan, Eric and Mollie Buchanan, Jason and Lena Buchanan, Jessica Buchanan Gum and Michael Gum, Brienna Buchanan and Landon Buchanan; five great-grandchildren: Trenton, Brandon, Vanessa, Ryan, and John. Included in Orvilles blended family are Alcys sons (and their families): Duane and Kitty Lamb and their family; Dennis Lamb, his daughter Nicole and son Jason.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 24th, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at Burns Mortuary in Hermiston followed by a military internment ceremony at the Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Irrigon. Disposition was by cremation. Memorial contributions may be made through Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon (541-567-6474), which is in care of arrangements.