MR. WILBUR DONALD BURCH, age 86, of Eastman, GA, died peacefully Monday, December 11, 2023, at Dodge County Hospital surrounded by his dedicated and loving family.
MR. WILBUR DONALD BURCH, age 86, of Eastman, GA, died peacefully Monday, December 11, 2023, at Dodge County Hospital surrounded by his dedicated and loving family.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Thursday, December 14, at Vilula Baptist Church, with Rev. Roy Williams, Mr. Gary Ryals, and Rev. Tim Brown officiating, with interment in Vilula Baptist Church Cemetery.
Wilbur was born and raised on the Burch family farm in Eastman, GA, and was a member of Vilula Baptist Church. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 when he was 16 at the time, however they soon found out that he was too young to serve. He returned home and completed high school and later re-enlisted in the Army in 1955 at age 19. He was sent overseas to Germany where he was promoted to Sergeant and worked as a tank mechanic. He was proud of the time he served in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged in 1958 he went to work at S&S Cafeteria in Daytona Beach, FL for a few months and later worked in a shipyard in Jacksonville, FL for a few years. He returned to Eastman and went to work at Robins AFB in the 1980s. He later worked at various car dealerships, farmed, raised hogs, and worked odd jobs. He was a jack of all trades and a wonderful mechanic who could work on anything. He was a lifelong farmer, a security guard for Stuckey’s, Inc., a licensed gunsmith, and a commercial truck driver. Wilbur was a loving father and grandfather who loved reading and writing, tinkering, and was an avid collector of many things. He was the son of the late Nettie Lee Sheffield Burch and John Benjamin Burch and was preceded in death by 5 Siblings, James Carlos “Carl” Burch, Mary Ethel Burch Rogers, Verna Lee Scarborough Tucker, John Felton Burch, and Needham Frederick “Sam” Burch.
He is survived by his Former Wife and Companion – Marilyn Dowdy Burch of Eastman; 2 Daughters – Marie Burch Hardeman (Jamie) and Virginia Burch Comstock (Lloyd Knight), both of Eastman; 3 Sons – Jonathan Burch, Anthony Burch (Amy), and Christopher Burch (Lea), all of Eastman; 11 Grandchildren – Jantzen Burch, Sabian Burch, Athan Burch, Allena Burch, Jacy Hardeman, Joni Hardeman, Jamielyn Hardeman, Camille Comstock, Collena Comstock, Cash Burch, and LillyAnne Burch; Sister – Carolyn Burch Rogers of Eastman; Numerous Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Friends.
The family will receive friends in Vilula Baptist Church from 1:00PM-2:00PM Thursday, December 14. The pallbearers for the service are Chris Burch, Cash Burch, Athan Burch, Jamie Hardeman, Jarred Frost, James Ward, and Graham Snyder. Musicians for the service are John Howard and Bentley McDuffie.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.