William Burch Obituary

William Albert "Bill" Burch, III, 87, husband of the late Rita Senkbeil Burch, died Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Born in Greenville, SC, he was the son of the late William Albert Burch, Jr. and Frances Stewart Burch.
Bill was a member of Buncombe Street Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Bill enjoyed a career in the textile industry for many years, beginning with J. P. Stevens and retiring from Delta Woodside after 45 years. Much of his career was spent at the Estes Plant in Piedmont where he made lifelong friendships. He was a member of the Piedmont Lions Club for many years and until the time of his death.
Billy, as he was known to family and his childhood friends, loved the outdoors and had many adventures in the creeks and woods around Tindal Avenue. He treasured his summer weeks at YMCA Camp Greenville, and the month-long 1952 Mackey Tour from Greenville to Canada, New York and Washington, DC. Building on those experiences, he instilled a love for the Blue Ridge Mountains in his children and took them hiking and on picnics whenever he could. He also made sure that every visiting niece and nephew had a chance to go down Sliding Rock in the Pisgah Forest near Brevard, NC.
He is survived by three children, William Albert "Bert" Burch IV (Deborah), Stacy Brandon (Joel), and Christopher "Chris" Burch (Cherné); four grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Johns, Michael Burch (Anna Grace), Blaine Brandon, and Dylan Brandon (Suzanne); brother-in-law David Petrie and sister-in-law Sylvia Nye; and numerous nieces and nephews all of whom he loved dearly.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by siblings James Michael Burch and Dorothy Burch Bagwell, and brother-in-law Josiah W. Bagwell Jr.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 12:45 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel. There will also be a reception following the memorial service at his daughter's home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Buncombe Street Methodist Church Congregational Care, 200 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC 29601, or to the Piedmont Lions Club c/o Glenda McAbee, 44 Barnwood Cr., Greenville, SC 29607.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view a livestream by clicking on the "WATCH EVENT" button located in the Services section.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Bill with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory."