Burchard Cole White's Obituary
Burchard Cole White, Jr., was born June 28, 1925 to Florence Hill White and Burchard Cole White Sr. Burch Sr was owner of White Electric Company on Shattuck Avenue, across from the old Hinks Store. The younger Burch graduated Berkeley High in the Feb. class 1945. He served in the US Navy until Aug. 12, 1946, as electronic technician’s mate and earned his BS in electrical engineering from UC Berkeley on June 15, 1950.
He worked for White Electric Company, where he became President & CEO in the 1960s.
Burch met spirited, charming, intellectual Doralee Ruth Clowes of Hindsdale, Illinois, when a customer at WhiteElectric. They married on Feb. 4, 1967 at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley, where Doralee taught children’s choir and church school. In 1973 they moved to Oakland with daughter, Susan.
Since 1953, Burch was active in Rotary Club of Berkeley. He embodied the motto: “Service Above Self.” Over the years he provided the electrical work on projects in Chacala, Mexico; Camps Gualala and Cazadero.
Burch loved classical music, nature photography, and hiking. He spent summers on the Russian River as a child. All his life he treasured trips to Yosemite at least once a year, and visited many other National Parks with his family.
He also took several big trips to Europe and one to Israel, a heart’s desire of his wife Doralee.
Burch was baptized at North Congregational Church on June 29, 1978 by the dear teacher and pastor Rev. Harvey Swanson. When the family transferred to First Covenant Church of Oakland, Burch continued a pattern of service, as well as Bible study and prayer. Burch considered the words of hymn “How Great Thou Art” to be a testimony of his growth in faith: from loving beauty in nature and music to personal connection with God the Creator in through His Son Jesus Christ. Burch is survived by daughter, Susan, of Oakland, CA and nephew, Bruce Forney of Bakersfield, CA.A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 2:30 pm, First Covenant Church, 4000 Redwood Road, Oakland, CA 94619.
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