More detail on this person: July 15, 1931 -
August 16, 2016 Burch, Walter M., Lt. Col., USA,
Retired, "a courageous aviator and soldier, and a
great engineer," passed away at age 85, on 16
August 2016 in Irvine, California, with his family
lovingly holding his hands. He was born in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Oscar and Urtis
Burch, and raised in Artesia, New Mexico. He
always wanted to fly, so he joined the New Mexico
Air National Guard in 1949 while still in Artesia
High School. He worked briefly in oil refineries
for Frontier Natural Gas and Phillips in Artesia
before joining the US Army in 1955, where he
earned a dual rating to fly fixed-wing aircraft
and helicopters. He served stateside, in Korea,
two tours in Vietnam, with CENTAG at NATO
Headquarters in Germany, and commanded Biggs
Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, on
his final assignment. He earned many decorations,
including three Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart
when his helicopter was shot down in Vietnam.After
32 years in the military, he retired from the Army
in 1982, and went to work in Southern California
on missile systems for Ford Aerospace, Loral
Aeroneutronic, and Lockheed Martin, retiring in
1997. His family and colleagues remember him as a
brave pilot, an excellent researcher, and a
stickler for detail, but an easy-going man;
serious most of the time, but with a wonderful,
dry sense of humor, a terrific smile, a warm
heart, and strength of character. He was a good
and honorable man, quiet, reserved, and sensitive,
who passed his strong values of duty, loyalty,
service, and hard work to his children. He could
fix just about anything, loved tinkering in his
garage, and devoured military and spy novels.
Words cannot describe how beloved he is, and how
much he will be missed. Walt is survived by his
wife of 51 years, Edna (Kooyer); his daughters,
Christa Burch, Debra Ann Manser and husband,
Steve; his son, Walter M. Burch, Jr. and wife,
Chaundelle; and three grandchildren, Melissa and
Matt Manser, and Trenton Burch. Services will be
held in Grand Rapids, Michigan with burial in
Ellsworth, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, please
donate to your favorite charity in his name.
It is with tremendous sadness I write you to tell
you my father, Lt. Col. Walter M. Burch, USA,
Ret., died on 16 August 2016. He served two tours
in Vietnam (66-67, and 70-71), Commanding the
282nd Blackcats Assault Helicopter Co. for a
portion of his second tour. He rarely spoke about
himself, or his past, but he always mentioned his
colleagues with fondness and pride, and I know
he'd made an effort to reconnect with many folks
from his days in Vietnam during the last decade of
his life. His health declined sharply in 2013,
keeping him largely housebound, but he found
escape, solace, and entertainment beyond these
walls through his relationships with folks in the
Blackcats, the VHPA, and the VHFCN. Thank you
for brightening his days!
If anyone would like to send condolences to his
wife, Eydie Burch, she can be reached at Dad's
email address, whitebarktree@sbcglobal.net.
This information was last updated 08/25/2016
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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024
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