William "Bill" James Burch, Jr.

William James Burch, Jr. 90, a long time resident of Lake Charles and Sulphur, died 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 May 29th 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 & husband George Michael Edwards, Sulphur; son, Benjamin K. Burch, Dallas, Tx; 3 granddaughters, Michelle Ann Stone & husband Brady, Carlyss, Amanda Ruth Reddin & husband Patrick, Sulphur, Victoria Wilson, Dallas, Tx; 2 grandsons: James K. Burch, Lakeland, Co.; Brandon Wilson, Dallas, Tx; 4 great grandchildren: Chance and Chase Stone; Sean &Michael Reddin; 2 brothers: Ralph E. Burch, Port Arthur, Tx; Charles O. Burch, Tulsa, Ok. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Lessie Ruth Burch; daughter Joy Lynn Wilson; parents: William James Burch, Sr. & Agnes Irene Armbruster. 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 an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Sulphur. Funeral services will be at 10am, September 16, 2010 from the church. The Rev. Monsignor Vincent A. Sedita will officiate. Burial will follow in Mimosa Pines Cemetery, Carlyss. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, September 15th from 5pm " 9pm, with a Scripture service at 6pm in Robison Funeral Home Chapel and resume on Thursday, September 16th from 8am " until time of precession to the church. If desired, memorials may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe, Houston, Tx. 77030.