William Albright “Bill” Burch, Jr of Bat Cave, North Carolina completed his earthly journey and joined his heavenly family on November 15, 2025.
He was born on October 28, 1929, to parents William Albright Burch, Sr and Martha Beatrice Wilson Burch in Kosciusko, MS while the family lived there for his fatherʼs work. He was the only boy of seven children, with three older sisters and three younger sisters. Through many of his formative years, the family lived on the Ford plantation in Richmond Hill, GA where his father was the superintendent of the sawmill. In his later years, Bill enjoyed going back to Richmond Hill to the museum now onsite and was one of the few people who could say that he had actually shook the hand of Henry Ford.
After the Ford Plantation closed, the family moved to Bat Cave, where his mother was born and raised and they opened Burch Grocery Store, and then later, his father built what is now the post office building in Bat Cave and ran the Sinclair Gas station.
Bill graduated from Edneyville High School in 1948. He enlisted in the Navy from 1948 to 1949 and then served in the reserves. As he said, the great war had just ended and there werenʼt supposed to be any more wars. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for two years. Until his enrollment was interrupted by the Korean War. He was reactivated and served on the hospital ship the U.S.S. Haven as a medic. He had some very funny stories about his service and life on the ship. He reenrolled in UNC several times, but was never able to finish his degree. Instead, he came home and created an amazing life in Bat Cave. He worked at the family station and would tell us that, as this was before the interstate system was built, all the traffic going from Charlotte to Asheville came through that little town and in the summers, they were so busy they would stay open 24 hours a day. He would also tell us that after a particularly long night of gassing cars and changing tires, he was determined to find something else to do. He started the Burch Gas company working with Freeman gas and served as the president until 1961.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Bill postmaster of the Bat Cave post office. He remained in that position until he retired in 1987. Having been retired for a great number of years, Bill would always encourage people to think about their retirement, to save and plan for it. And he made the most of his.
After retiring from the post office, Bill became a gentleman farmer and raised ginseng and golden seal. He learned from his good friend, Tom Konsler and became quite knowledgeable about it and on one occasion hosted both Molly Broad, the then President of the University of North Carolina and Marye Anne Fox, the then Chancellor of North Carolina State University as they came to tour his farm.
Bill was also a real estate broker and worked in the Hickory Nut Gorge area until 2002, when he closed his office. He helped families buy and sell real estate, and also worked as the local broker with the Todd Auction company for a large land sale in the area.
Bill was an active community volunteer and advocate for the Hickory Nut Gorge. He admired his lifelong friend, Dr. George F. Bond and his establishment of the Valley Clinic and Hospital and served as Chairman of the Board of the hospital for many years.
In 1974, he helped to organize the Bat Cave Fire Department and was a charter
volunteer member. He chaired the fire department board for 23 years and retired
as an active volunteer firefighter in 1997.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5206 in Hendersonville and joined the American Legion in 1952. He served many times as the Post Commander for Legion Post 437 in Lake Lure. Bill was a member of the Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave and served in various leadership roles for the church over the years, including his service on the vestry.
Bill was a true outdoorsman, sometimes preferring the company of nature to that of man. He loved to share his knowledge of hunting and the outdoors and always had the best stories of his adventures.
Bill had a positive outlook on life and enjoyed his 96 years here. Whatever challenge he faced, he just found a way to work around it. He was active and engaged to the very end of his journey, visiting with family and friends just two weeks before he passed. He was dedicated to his children and family and made time with them his priority.
He is survived by his children, Hon. Susan R. Burch (Carla) and Dr. William A. Burch, III of Greensboro, who are grateful for his presence in their lives and the legacy that he leaves behind for them. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Gresley, and many nieces and nephews who adored him, and by his long time companion and partner, Mary Jo Stone.
The family is grateful for all the help and support they have received. They would like to thank, especially Todd and Lori Moss, and Teresa Harris Blackburn, and all the wonderful cousins and friends for the love and support they have given.
A funeral will be held on 12:00 pm Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave. A visitation will begin at 11:00 am. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery. There will be a light reception in the parish hall following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, Bill would want you to donate your time and energy to
something that matters to you and invest in your family and the life around you.
Jackson Funeral Service has the honor of serving the Burch family.
Condolences may be sent to the Burch family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or C/O Jackson Funeral Service 1101 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Please include the name of the deceased on the condolence.