Obituary of Robert Lee Buchan

Robert Lee Buchan

December 1, 1957. - September 18, 2023

 

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Lee Buchan of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.  Robert succumbed to a debilitating stroke in Soldier’s Memorial Hospital on September 18, after having fought courageously for 4 months. 

 

Robert was born in Florida to William Lee and Barbara Jo Buchan, who predeceased him.  As a child, he spent time on the Everglades and learned to hunt with a bow and arrow.   Robert joined the military at a young age and stayed only for the first term. After that, he worked on a shrimp boat for a while and then learned to cook in some of the finer hotels in Florida.  This became his passion.  While recovering from back surgery, he met his future wife, Marilyn, who was vacationing in Daytona Beach.  After 10 months of daily long distance calls, Robert flew to Toronto, Ontario and he and Marilyn married, and remained so for 39 years.  There were no children, but many beloved pets through the years.  Robert had a quirky sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye; he loved to tell tall tales and he made friends easily.  But unfortunately poor health plagued him throughout the last 30 years of his life, but moving to Annapolis Royal in November 2021 and being near the water rekindled his spirit as did living in a small town with the comfort and camaraderie that he found here.  He loved feeding the birds in the backyard and was out faithfully every morning and evening to make sure they had food, and he was thrilled to find deer eating from the feeder at night (and yes, our apples and carrots seemed to disappear from the pantry quite regularly in the winter months….)   It is a comfort to know the joy that he found in living in this community, as short a time as that was.

 

Robert is survived by his wife, Marilyn Walden, and his sisters-in-law, Lynn Walden and Nancy de Blauw, his brother-in-law Rob de Blauw, his niece Vanessa Gilpin and his nephew Morgan de Blauw.  Many thanks to Dr. Christopher Stone and the staff who provided care at Valley Regional and Soldier’s Memorial Hospital.

 

Creamtion has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

 

Online condolence may be made at www.kaulbachfamilyfuneralhome.com