Frances Louis McClung Buchanan, 97, of McLean, passed away Sunday, November 4, 2018, at her niece’s home in McLean. She was born on February 25, 1921 in Clover Creek, Highland County, the youngest of three daughters of Louie Edwin and Bessie Gratton Pullin Mc Clung. She graduated from McDowell High School and Madison College (now James Madison University), Harrisonburg.
She taught in the Highland County Schools and worked for 29 years for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C. before retiring in 1971. In retirement she pursued her love of history, family and friends through genealogical research. She was a charter member of the Sarah Murray Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was active in the Society of FBI Alumni.
She was truly representative of the historical legacy and heritage of Highland County and loved telling the story of how McClung ancestor David Gwin served in Revolutionary War and purchased the home place in 1805. Her heart never left Highland County and the McClung home place. Many a day she could be found sitting on the front porch waving to those that drove by.
Known to family, friends and neighbors as “Frankie,” and famous for her “country style of hospitality,” neighbors loved to stop for a visit whenever she could be seen at the farm. She was instrumental in obtaining both Virginia and U.S. historical designation for the McClung Family home and Fort George, an original British fort from the French & Indian War. She also took an active part in preserving the McClung Family home, the McClung barn (one of the oldest barns in Highland County) as well as the Clover Creek Presbyterian Church.
Her husband of 44 years, Charles Edward Buchanan, preceded her in death on June 13, 1992. Two sisters also preceded her in death; Montgomery Reamer McClung Linkous on August 17, 2001 and Mary Vaiden McClung Leake on September 12, 2003. Although she had no children, she was active in the lives of her nieces and nephews and was considered by some as a “second mother”.
She is survived by a nephew and his wife, Dr. William Snowden Hunter and Patricia Anne Link of Staunton; a niece and her husband, Terrell Linkous and Rev. Dr. David Meredith Hindman of Williamsburg; a niece and her husband, Monte Kaye Leake and Gregg. P. Skall of McLean; a niece and her husband, Vicky Frances Leake and Daniel Zapata of Ashburn; a nephew and his wife, Charles McClung Leake and Wendy Gay Evans of Vienna; six grand nieces and nephews; Anne Elizabeth Hunter Nunley of Ashburn, William Lee Hunter of Christiansburg, Benjamin Terrell Hindman of Quinton, Grace Meredith Hindman Fend of Union, NJ; Brandon Cornell Skall of Washington, DC and Rachel Zapata of New York City, NY and a number of great-grand nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2018, at the family home place, McClung Farms, 6006 Bullpasture River Rd. , McDowell. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the Clover Creek Presbyterian Church by the Reverend David M. Hindman.
Interment will follow in the Clover Creek Cemetery. Active pallbearers; Dr. William Hunter, Charles Leake, Gregg Skall, Daniel Zapata, Anne Nunley, Lee Hunter, Benjamin Hindman, Grace Fend, Brandon Skall and Rachel Zapata. Honorary pallbearers will be Dean Beverage, Jack Borden, Bryan McGraw, Danny Neil, John Vance, Jeff Shumate and Casey Thaler.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Clover Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Wes Maupin, 790 Maloy Drive, McDowell, Va. 24458.
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