Dale Bucher Memorial Scholarship Fund

Harold and Florence Bucher came to the Mennonite Church by way of the Lutheran Church and have a long history of service to the church. Although Harold’s grandfather was Lutheran when he came to the U.S. from Europe, he became a Mennonite minister in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Harold’s father was a preacher at Stoneybrook in York County. Florence’s grandfather was also a minister. For 26 years, beginning in 1958, the Buchers were self-supporting missionaries, including seven years among the Creek Indians in Alabama.

The Buchers had high hopes for their four children–Rachel, David, Dale and Carol– and worked hard to see that they received an education. When it was time for the children to go to college, Rachel and David went to Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Carol went to Goshen College, and Dale transferred to Goshen after his first year at EMC. At one point, Harold and Florence had three children in college.

Even at a young age, Harold thought he saw something special in Dale. In high school Dale enjoyed drama. He also was an excellent musician and wrote some music. He liked to play guitar and saxophone arid was a member of GC’s first Jazz band. Harold remembers that his son liked school so much that Dale joked, “If dad kept paying, I’d keep going.”

Dale graduated from Goshen College in 1978 with a psychology major and went on to earn a masters degree, also in psychology. He was just beginning to realize his potential when he contracted a rare brain disease. Originally thought to be multiple sclerosis, Dale’s illness evaded accurate diagnosis for several years until Magnetic Resonance Imaging gave doctors an internal view of the brain previously unavailable except through an autopsy.

While living with the specter of MS for two years, Dale continued to pursue his interest in psychology. He wanted to teach and was determined that as the MS advanced, he would not let it slow him down. If he had to, he would teach from a wheel chair.

Dale was six months away from receiving his doctoral degree when he died in 1989. Dale, his wife Rebecca, and their son Louis, then a year and a half, were living in Boston at the time. It seemed that his life had been cut short.

But this story is not a sad one. Dale’s outlook was always cheerful. Even in the last days, he joked with nurses and made plans for his funeral.

Dale also used the occasion of his illness to advance medical understanding of his condition. Until Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the disease Dale was afflicted with usually avoided detection. CAT scans done on Dale seemed to confirm MS. Dale asked that an autopsy be done after his death to aid doctors in making earlier detection of the disease in others.

The Buchers service continues even in retirement. Florence was an RN and does local volunteer work. Harold works part-time at the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and also volunteers with other community organizations.

Dale had planned on teaching, and several of his articles were published in journals. Through the endowed scholarship established in Dale’s memory by his family, his interest in helping others goes on. It will help other students realize their potential.