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Roll Call Tribute
William "Bill" Burch Jr. '42 September 20, 2010 12:27 PM
Published in (Sulphur LA) Southwest Daily News from September 15 to September 22, 2010
William James Burch, Jr. 90, a long time resident of Lake Charles and Sulphur, died on the 13th day, September 2010, surrounded by his family. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas July 21, 1920. He attended Port Arthur High School and was a 1942 graduate of Texas A&M College in College Station Texas, now Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Commission in the United States Army. He did post graduate work in the LSU School of Chemical Engineering.
Following Army discharge, he was employed by Gulf Oil in Port Arthur, Texas, and Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas. He was employed at the Lake Charles Cities Service Refinery on May 29, 1944; one day after the refinery was dedicated, where he remained a loyal employee for 38 years. He retired from there as a Project Manager in 1982. During his career with Cities Service he was affiliated with several professional organizations including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Sociality. He authored and co-authored a number of technical articles and papers that were published in Petroleum Refiner, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry and the Oil and Gas Journal. He served as president of the Industrial Management Club. He was instrumental in organizing and working with Lake Charles Boy Scout Troop No. 11. He was past president of the Southwest Louisiana Texas A&M Club and the Lake Charles Toastmasters Club.
He is survived by one daughter, Ruth Ann Edwards and her husband, George Michael Edwards of Sulphur; a son, Benjamin K. Burch of Dallas, Texas; three, granddaughters, Michelle Ann Stone and husband, Brady of Carlyss, Amanda Ruth Reddin and husband, Patrick of Sulphur, and Victoria Wilson
of Dallas, Texas; two grandsons, James K. Burch of Lakeland, Colorado, and Brandon Wilson of Dallas, Texas; and four great grandchildren, Chance and Chase Stone, and Sean and Michael Reddin; and two brothers, Ralph E. Burch of Port Arthur, Texas and Charles O. Burch of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lessie Ruth Burch; a daughter, Joy Lynn Wilson of
Dallas, Texas; and his parents, William James Burch, Sr. and Agnes Irene Armbruster of Port Arthur, Texas.
His hobbies were badminton, traveling with the Wally Byam Caravan Club over all of the 48 states along with Mexico and Canada. He enjoyed dancing at the various area clubs, square dancing with the
Swinging Rebels square dance club and was a active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., September 16, 2010 from the church. The Reverend Monsignor Vincent A. Sedita will officiate. Burial will follow in Mimosa Pines Cemetery, Carlyss under the direction of Robison Funeral Home. Visitation is on Wednesday, September 15 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a Scripture service at 6 p.m. in Robison Funeral Home Chapel, and resumes on Thursday, September 16 from 8 a.m. until time of procession to the church.
If desired, memorials may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe, Houston, TX, 77030.
William James Burch, Jr. 90, a long time resident of Lake Charles and Sulphur, died on the 13th day, September 2010, surrounded by his family. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas July 21, 1920. He attended Port Arthur High School and was a 1942 graduate of Texas A&M College in College Station Texas, now Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Commission in the United States Army. He did post graduate work in the LSU School of Chemical Engineering.
Following Army discharge, he was employed by Gulf Oil in Port Arthur, Texas, and Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas. He was employed at the Lake Charles Cities Service Refinery on May 29, 1944; one day after the refinery was dedicated, where he remained a loyal employee for 38 years. He retired from there as a Project Manager in 1982. During his career with Cities Service he was affiliated with several professional organizations including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Sociality. He authored and co-authored a number of technical articles and papers that were published in Petroleum Refiner, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry and the Oil and Gas Journal. He served as president of the Industrial Management Club. He was instrumental in organizing and working with Lake Charles Boy Scout Troop No. 11. He was past president of the Southwest Louisiana Texas A&M Club and the Lake Charles Toastmasters Club.
He is survived by one daughter, Ruth Ann Edwards and her husband, George Michael Edwards of Sulphur; a son, Benjamin K. Burch of Dallas, Texas; three, granddaughters, Michelle Ann Stone and husband, Brady of Carlyss, Amanda Ruth Reddin and husband, Patrick of Sulphur, and Victoria Wilson
of Dallas, Texas; two grandsons, James K. Burch of Lakeland, Colorado, and Brandon Wilson of Dallas, Texas; and four great grandchildren, Chance and Chase Stone, and Sean and Michael Reddin; and two brothers, Ralph E. Burch of Port Arthur, Texas and Charles O. Burch of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lessie Ruth Burch; a daughter, Joy Lynn Wilson of
Dallas, Texas; and his parents, William James Burch, Sr. and Agnes Irene Armbruster of Port Arthur, Texas.
His hobbies were badminton, traveling with the Wally Byam Caravan Club over all of the 48 states along with Mexico and Canada. He enjoyed dancing at the various area clubs, square dancing with the
Swinging Rebels square dance club and was a active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., September 16, 2010 from the church. The Reverend Monsignor Vincent A. Sedita will officiate. Burial will follow in Mimosa Pines Cemetery, Carlyss under the direction of Robison Funeral Home. Visitation is on Wednesday, September 15 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a Scripture service at 6 p.m. in Robison Funeral Home Chapel, and resumes on Thursday, September 16 from 8 a.m. until time of procession to the church.
If desired, memorials may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe, Houston, TX, 77030.
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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