Grandpa Bill Burch

A letter I wanted to share from my grandpa's friend Gary Dollar. He has been friends with my grandpa for many years and learned to carve my grandpa's boloties to one day take over what he has started. It's comforting to read about my grandpa's last few hours. I wish I could have been there.

From Gary Dollar

Our dear friend Bill Burch passed away peacefully this morning at home around 4:00 am. Laura, Ashley and I were able to spend a couple of hours last night with him. Betty and Barbara (daughter) said that he had been sleeping and probably wouldn't wake for me, because of the medications he had been given, but that we could sit with him. I held his hand and talked to him for 10 to 15 minutes and then kissed him on his forehead. He awoke immediately and said "hi Gary". He then smiled and laughed a bit and stayed awake while I helped him get into his p-jays then helped him get settled into a hospital bed that was brought in to help him to be more comfortable. He didn't say much but he smiled at me and laughed at my kidding's. Once we got him comfortable in his new bed he slipped into a peaceful sleep and that is the way he stayed until his passing.

I am so grateful that Bill and I were able to travel and share so much of our lives together over the last 24 years. I consider the past 5 to 10 years an added bonus while his health was so frail. Even as difficult as it was health wise for Bill he always wanted to be around the young men and boys to sharing a bolo and a story. Bill was always good for a story and the fun part was you could listen to the same story over and over and it was just as inspiring as the first time.

His wooden toys were the best, and always a hit. His "round-to-its" will be as memorable as the bolos and will be a tradition that my sweet wife Laura and I will continue as we go forward with Bill's work and mission of carving and providing the bolos/stories and commitments that made Bill an icon across this land and many nations of the world.

His funeral will be held on Monday. As we find out the funeral time I will forward it on and would gratefully ask that you each forward it to your friends that knew and loved Bill as I did. I'm hoping that at his funeral all the seats will be full with people standing in the halls or as Bill would say, "Dancing in the halls". 

A favorite of Bill's stories was at his mother's passing where she said to him "Bill you know how I have always loved to travel? Well this next journey will be a dozy". Bill has now taken his "journey" and I know his dear mother was right there to show him around – I bet Betty that he had a pocket knife "Boker to be exact" in his hand.

Thank you for your love and prayers,

Gary S. and Laura Dollar