Obituary of Lt. Gen. USAF Ret. E.G. Shuler, Jr.

USAF Retired Lieutenant General E. G. “Buck” Shuler, Jr., 87, husband of Annette Maury Shuler, died Friday, October 18, 2024, at Covenant Place. Born in Raleigh, NC, he was a son of the late Ellie Givan Shuler, Sr. and Frances Alberta Williams Shuler. Surviving is his wife; a son Ellie G. “Buck” Shuler, III and his wife Sharlene Y. Shuler; his children, William G. Shuler, Matthew C. Shuler, 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), Madeleine Maury Shuler, and their grandchildren, William H. Sherrill, Otto E. Warren, Shuler L. Sherrill, Cooper F. Warren; son, Gray H. Shuler and his wife, Christine L. Shuler; 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 thirty-two-year career in the United States Air Force. He was a command pilot with over 7600 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 Navel 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 sixteen 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 Ft. Jackson National Cemetery with Rev. Nicholas Beasley officiating and with full military honors. A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 P.M. 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. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.