Paula Joy Buchanan

Paula Joy Buchanan, age 71 of Columbus, IN passed away September 26, 2019 at Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, IN. She was born March 14, 1948 in Greensburg, IN the daughter of the late Lawrence E. (Pete) and Dorothy (Clapp) Buchanan. 
She was raised in Decatur County, Indiana and resided in Burney, Westport, Greensburg, and later moved to Columbus, Indiana. She also lived in northern Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan while teaching in the 1970s and 1980s.
She attended Burney Elementary School and graduated from Sandcreek High School in 1966. She graduated from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana with a BS and an MS in Business Education.
Paula was a Business Education teacher in Northern Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan for 15 years, taught evening adult education for a junior college in Illinois for 4 years, and served as a substitute teacher in Bartholomew County Schools in the 1980s. Along with full-time teaching, Paula worked part-time as a nursing assistant at Decatur Co. Memorial Hospital (1969-76) and later as a nursing assistant at two different hospitals in Kankakee, Illinois (1979-1983), as well as a student secretary/food service worker while attending Indiana State. Paula became an administrative assistant at Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis in June 1994.
Paula attended Burney (Indiana) United Methodist Church where she assisted with Sunday school and as an occasional song leader. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Wolcott, Indiana.
Paula was an avid reader and craft/hobbyist and loved to travel to visit family and friends all over the US. Her favorite pastime (and greatest joy) was being "Aunt Paula" to her family and their friends. Paula liked to do the 5K Walks for the Cure sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society. She worked as a volunteer for providing "stuffed" socks for the homeless for several years in Indianapolis, collecting toiletries, etc. which were given to the Lighthouse Mission for dispensing to the homeless. Paula was once nominated for an award as "Volunteer of the Year" with the YMCA of Indianapolis and felt honored just by having been nominated by an attorney at Ice Miller.
She is survived by her sister, Susan J. (Jerry) Bafford of Shelbyville, IN; Nephews, Jeffrey R. (Barbara) Hatton of Greensburg, IN; Michael C. (Melissa) Hatton of Columbus, IN; Derek D. Hatton; Niece Brooke (Jerry) Hughes of Columbus, IN; great nieces and great nephews, Kelsey Mosier, Taylor and Emma Hatton of Greensburg, IN; Libby Cravens and Tanner Hatton of Columbus, IN; Clayton and Elizabeth Kroger of Columbus, IN; Allyson Hatton of Columbus, IN. Several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Edward (Pete) Buchanan and Dorothy (Clapp) Buchanan; Grandparents, E. Gordon and Elsie (Fezzell) Clapp, Charles E. and Bessie (Bullard) Buchanan, an infant brother and several beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 with Pastor Dawn Barnes officiating at 11:00amin Glenn E. George Funeral Home, 106 E. Franklin St., St. Paul, Indiana. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 9:00am until 11:00am. Burial will follow in Van Pelt Cemetery, Shelby County, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be offered to the Alzheimer's Association and or the Burney United Methodist Church
c/o Bill Anderson 7830 W. Co. Rd. 80 N., Greensburg, IN 47240.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paula Joy Buchanan, please visit our floral store.