USAF retired Lt. Gen. E. G. “Buck” Shuler Jr., 87, husband of Annette Maury Shuler, died Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Covenant Place.
Born in Raleigh, N.C., he was a son of the late Ellie Givan Shuler Sr. and Frances Alberta Williams Shuler.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Ellie G. “Buck” Shuler III and his wife, Sharlene Y. Shuler; his children, William G. Shuler, Matthew C. Shuler and Joseph D. Shuler, and her children Hannah M. Rose, Jordyn T. Rose and Charles K. Rose Jr.; son, Franklin M. Shuler and his wife, Allison C. Shuler; their children, Carin S. Warren (Andrew), Anna Kate Sherrill (Zachary) and Madeleine Maury Shuler; and their grandchildren, William H. Sherrill, Otto E. Warren, Shuler L. Sherrill and Cooper F. Warren; son, Gray H. Shuler and his wife, Christine L. Shuler; and their children, Anna Hays Shuler and Maury Lee Shuler.
Gen. Shuler was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, a life member of the Association of The Citadel Men and a member of Theta Commission Kappa Alpha Order. Past president and chairman of the Board of The Mighty Eighth Air Force Historical Museum.
Gen. Shuler graduated from The Citadel in 1959. He had a 32-year career in the United States Air Force. He was a command pilot with over 7,600 flying hours. He flew 125 combat missions in the F-4C Phantom in Vietnam. He commanded two B-52 Bomb Wings, two Air Divisions and culminated his career as the commander of the 8th Air Force. Gen. Shuler was a graduate of both the National and Naval War Colleges. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Cheonsu Medal and 16 other decorations and ribbons. He was recently awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor McMaster.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery with the Rev. Nicholas Beasley officiating and with full military honors.
A memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia.
The family will receive friends following the memorial service.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, The Mighty Eighth Air Force Historical Museum or The Citadel.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.