Richard J. (Dick) Buchner, Jr. passed away on January 9, 2026 at home with his loving and devoted wife by his side. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and family member.
Dick was born in Savannah (where he lived most of his life) on September 28, 1940 at Telfair Hospital and was raised along with his older sister, Carol, and his two younger brothers, Jim and Paul.
He attended and graduated from Blessed Sacrament School and Benedictine Military School. He was accepted and received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
Dick married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Eileen “Pug” Ryle, in 1962 at St. James Catholic Church. Together, they raised their two sons, Rick (III) and Dave, on Isle of Hope and The Landings on Skidaway Island, where they built one of the first homes on the island in 1972.
Many fun times with family and friends were shared playing tennis and boating to coastal islands, fishing, and swimming.
Subsequent to various employment in Savannah, in 1967 he joined Skidaway Institute of Oceanography as Chief Fiscal Officer where he worked 30 years.
At The Landings, he was a volunteer firefighter for 22 years, volunteer first responder for 15 years, board member and president of The Landings Association in the early 1980’s.
After retirement in 1997, he pursued his lifelong love of boating and the ocean with his wife at his side as first mate, on his 44 foot trawler, “The Great Life.” Their first years of cruising took them exploring the waterways north from Savannah to Maine, and south cruising both coasts of Florida, down to the Dry Tortugas and through the Bahamas to the Exumas. They completed their adventure by cruising the 6,000 mile Great Loop route, which circumnavigates the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada via inland waterways, rivers and the Great Lakes; this trip took just under a year and a half to complete.
In 2003 the next adventure took hold with a move to North Georgia to be nearer to family.
Living on the lake there required adjustment to fresh water fishing and boating as well as kayaking in the creeks and hiking in the mountains. He was a volunteer math teacher for several years with the Adult Literacy program in Dawsonville, Ga.
Being a devout Catholic all of his life, his involvement in the church included being an Eucharistic minister, a reader, and a member of the choir and Financial Committee.
He was a consummate “do-it-yourselfer" and kept his houses, boats, cars, and electronics, as well as those of family and friends, in good operating order.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard John, Sr. and Anne McDaniel Buchner, his sister Carol Mock, and his brothers Jim and Paul Buchner.
Dick is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Eileen, his sons, Rick III (Tracey), Dave, grandchildren Danielle and Walker, and extended family and friends.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 14 at St. James Catholic Church, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Family and friends are invited to a reception after the services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. James “Charging Forward in Faith and Education Fund” in Dick’s name.