LEWISTON – Robert E. Buchanan, 86, a lifelong resident of Auburn, died Friday, Dec. 5, at Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born at Central Maine Medical Center then known as Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston, on July 15, 1922, the son of Lemuel Hazlewood Buchanan and Nellie Chute-Smith Buchanan. He was a 1940 graduate of Edward Little High School, 1948 graduate of Bentley College, attended the Auburn Maine School of Commerce and was awarded a B.B.A. degree by the University of Maine at Augusta in 1988.

He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving as a bombardier-navigator on a B-25 aircraft in the Southwest Pacific Theater. After the war he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve retiring as a Lt. Col., in 1968 after 25 years from when he first entered active duty. He was employed as an internal auditor by NEPSCO Services, then served as office manager and credit manager at Lewiston Gas and Light Co., from 1949 to 1967. He then began his 20-year association with CMMC as controller and director of finance, later vice president for finance, and chief financial officer and treasurer of Central Maine Healthcare Corp., retiring in 1987. Following retirement, both he and his wife, Bette, wintered in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., for many years.

He was a trustee and secretary treasurer of the Dr. Gard W. Twaddle Nurse’s Endowment Fund, and a trustee and treasurer of the CMMC School of Nursing. Also, a member and former treasurer, director and president of the Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis Club and past Lt. Gov. of division 23, New England District of Kiwanis International. He was a past councilor and chaplain emeritus of Twin City Council 160, United Commercial Travelers of America, and past president of its Past Councilors’ Association. He was a member of the Maine Hospital Association, the New England Hospital Assembly, and the American Hospital Association. He was a member, former director, treasurer and past president of the Maine Chapter, Healthcare Financial Management Association, in which he held the professional designations of Fellow and Certified Manager of Patient Accounts. He was a co-founder and past president of Hospital Services Inc., in Augusta. He served as a commissioner of the Auburn Housing Authority. He was a member of Ancient Brothers Lodge, A.F. and A.M., the Scottish Rite Bodies and Kora Temple, AAONMS. He was a member and former vestryman and treasurer of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Auburn. He was a life member of Post 1603, VFW, and a life member of the U.S. Air Force 500th Bomb Squadron Association.

On June 16, 1951, he married the former Bette J. Baumann, who survives him; as do three children, Mary A Smith and her husband, Thomas A. Smith, Thomas R. Buchanan and Andrew E. Buchanan and his wife, Denise; five grandchildren, Bradley Buchanan, Justin Goulet, Sarah J. Smith, Catherine M. Smith and Crystal W. Buchanan; four great-grandchildren, Alexander Whitmore, Rebekah Buchanan, Aislynn Goulet and Sophia L. DeAngelo. Also surviving is his brother, Richard K. Buchanan and his wife, Jean, of Deland, Fla.