Ernest Eugene Burch

Ernest E. "Pop" Burch, age 80, of #450 Gazelle Dew Road, Armuchee, GA. passed away on Tuesday night, July 2, 2013 at a Rome hospital from complications of a rattlesnake bite.

A native of Floyd County, Mr. Burch was born on December 1, 1932, the son of the late Lester Milligan Burch and the late Clemmie Pearl Turner Burch. He was a life long resident of Floyd County, was a graduate of Model High School, Shorter College and Georgia State University.. Mr. Burch attended and did Post Graduate Work at the University of Georgia. Prior to his retirement in 1992, Mr. Burch served as the Polk County, Georgia School Superintendent for 4 years. Over his lifetime, Mr. Burch worked in a variety of careers including farming, employee of Klopman Mills and served as an educator for Floyd, Gordon and Polk Counties. He was very active in civic organizations and as a hobby he and his wife raised Draft Horses and traveled extensively throughout the United States. After his retirement, Mr. Burch enjoyed playing Santa Claus for many children throughout the Southeast. Mr. Burch was married on May 31, 1951 to the former Patricia Marlene Touchstone who survives. He was an active member of Mt. Tabor Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia "MeMaw" Burch; 4 daughters, Pamela Green (Randall) of Rome, Janet Baker (Paul) of Armuchee, Connie Elder (Craig) of Johns Creek, Georgia and Nancy Edenfield (Randy) of Lula, Georgia; 2 sons, Tim Burch (Leslie) of Lake Jackson, Texas and Mark Burch (Mary) of Appling, Georgia; 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive as do 2 sisters, Geneva Culberson of Rome and Elizabeth Rochester (Curtis) of Rome. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Mr. Burch was a family man who loved people, enjoyed a good joke and loved to be the teller of tall tales. He touched many lives and brought many smiles.

Funeral services for Mr. Burch will be held on Saturday morning, July 6, 2013 at 11 o'clock from the Parkview Chapel of Fred Talley's Funeral Home with Dr. Wayne Hopper and Dr. Bryan Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Burch will remain at Fred Talley's Parkview Chapel where the family will receive friends this (Friday) evening from 6 until 9 o'clock. At other hours they will be at the residence.

Mr. Burch's grandsons will serve as active pallbearers.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Heroes Great and Small, P.O. Box 705, Armuchee, Georgia 30105.

Please join the family in honoring the life of Ernest E. "Pop" Burch by visiting www.talleysparkviewchapel.com and posting your tributes and memories.

Fred Talley and the staff of Fred Talley's Parkview Chapel Funeral Home, Rome, Georgia is honored to be serving the family of Ernest E. "Pop" Burch.

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