Obituary for Raymond Burch
Raymond Burch, 85, of Amarillo, passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Washington Avenue Christian Church with Jim Shelburne, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon. Public viewing will begin at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
Raymond was born on January 25, 1938 in Chicago, IL to Clarence and Mary (Way) Burch. He graduated from Chicago Vocational School in 1956 and entered the military right out of high school. He served in the U.S. Airforce until August of 1964. When stationed in Amarillo for training, he became a B47 Bomber Crew Chief.
One of Raymond’s favorite quotes is “A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including their life’.”
Upon leaving the military, Raymond began working as a Line Foreman for SPS. He also attended Amarillo College and he enjoyed saying, ‘I got my start at Amarillo College’. He retired from SPS in 1999 after 35 years. He then volunteered as chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital for 15 years. When the position was dissolved at NWTH, he began volunteering at Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital as chaplain for the next six years.
Raymond was a longtime member of the motorcycle club, Top Wings in Amarillo and served as the original president. He was also a member of Washington Avenue Christian Church.
On most days, you could find Raymond detailing his car (he loved a clean car) or polishing his motorcycle. He also enjoyed a pretty yard although he didn’t particularly enjoy yardwork. He and Pat loved traveling on the motorcycle and took numerous trips to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Tetons to name a few. They also enjoyed traveling with tour groups and taking cruises where they visited Washington DC, New York, The Ark, Israel, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean. One of Raymond’s most enjoyable trips was to Hawaii where he was able to visit the battleship, USS Arizona.
Having grown up helping his grandmother work the concession stand at Wrigley Field, he was able to see all the games and have all the food he wanted. He became an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and later became just as passionate about the Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Tom Burch, an infant sister, Judith, and a son, Larry Burch in (1968).
Survivors include his wife, Pat Burch of the home; five daughters, Linda Satterwhite and husband, Matt of Canyon, Laura Brown of Richmond, TX, Rebecca Marshall and husband, Bret of Cleburne, Jessica Mitchell of Scottsdale, AZ, and Tonya Denny and husband, Brian of Amarillo; sixteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Maggie.
The family suggests memorials be to Washington Avenue Christian Church, 3800 S. Washington St., Amarillo, Texas 79110 or to a favorite charity.
Raymond was born on January 25, 1938 in Chicago, IL to Clarence and Mary (Way) Burch. He graduated from Chicago Vocational School in 1956 and entered the military right out of high school. He served in the U.S. Airforce until August of 1964. When stationed in Amarillo for training, he became a B47 Bomber Crew Chief.
One of Raymond’s favorite quotes is “A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including their life’.”
Upon leaving the military, Raymond began working as a Line Foreman for SPS. He also attended Amarillo College and he enjoyed saying, ‘I got my start at Amarillo College’. He retired from SPS in 1999 after 35 years. He then volunteered as chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital for 15 years. When the position was dissolved at NWTH, he began volunteering at Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital as chaplain for the next six years.
Raymond was a longtime member of the motorcycle club, Top Wings in Amarillo and served as the original president. He was also a member of Washington Avenue Christian Church.
On most days, you could find Raymond detailing his car (he loved a clean car) or polishing his motorcycle. He also enjoyed a pretty yard although he didn’t particularly enjoy yardwork. He and Pat loved traveling on the motorcycle and took numerous trips to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Tetons to name a few. They also enjoyed traveling with tour groups and taking cruises where they visited Washington DC, New York, The Ark, Israel, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean. One of Raymond’s most enjoyable trips was to Hawaii where he was able to visit the battleship, USS Arizona.
Having grown up helping his grandmother work the concession stand at Wrigley Field, he was able to see all the games and have all the food he wanted. He became an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and later became just as passionate about the Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Tom Burch, an infant sister, Judith, and a son, Larry Burch in (1968).
Survivors include his wife, Pat Burch of the home; five daughters, Linda Satterwhite and husband, Matt of Canyon, Laura Brown of Richmond, TX, Rebecca Marshall and husband, Bret of Cleburne, Jessica Mitchell of Scottsdale, AZ, and Tonya Denny and husband, Brian of Amarillo; sixteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Maggie.
The family suggests memorials be to Washington Avenue Christian Church, 3800 S. Washington St., Amarillo, Texas 79110 or to a favorite charity.