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- [S142] Newspaper Article, Florida Times Union, 23 Sep 2009.
BURCHFIELD Harold Lee Burchfield, 92, of Atlantic Beach, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at the McGraw Center. He was born on September 1, 1917 in Townsend, Tennessee, the son of Georgia Wear and Robert Burchfield. Harold attended Tennessee Wesleyan Junior College at Athens and was selected all-Southeastern Junior College Player in a national poll. He followed his football coach to William and Mary College in Virginia where he was named All State. He received a B.S. degree from Union University, Jackson Tennessee in 1941 where he also played football and was a member of SAE fraternity. After graduation he joined the Army Air Corp as a physical trainer and was stationed at bases in North Carolina and Mississippi. In 1943 he was sent to O.C.S. in Miami, Florida, and after contracting yellow fever, he received an honorable discharge. After recovering his health he took a job as a physical education teacher and coach at Knoxville Central High School where he met his future wife, Inez Merritt. Four months later they were married on June 3rd, 1944. While at Central he received an offer to play for the Philadelphia Eagles but received a broken leg in His 1st exhibition game. He then accepted a coaching job in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. During the summers he earned his Master's degree from the University of Tennessee. In 1948 he and Inez moved to Miami, Florida where he was a high school coach for five years and got his contractor's license. For the next 15 years he built houses and also worked for the Dade County Building and Zoning dept. He was a member of N. Miami Presbyterian Church where he was a Deacon and taught Sunday School. He was a member of the Mahi Shiners of Miami. In 1969 he and Inez moved to Atlantic Beach, where he bought his own business, a coin laundry. He retired in 1985, spending his time gardening and growing vegetables for his family and neighbors and spending time with his grand children. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, brother Clell Burchfield and step-brother, Werner Effler. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Inez, his brother, Wilbur Effler and his wife Alice of Maryville, TN; his daughter and son in law Alice and Woody Richardson of Atlantic Beach, grandchildren Matthew, Ryan and Anna Richardson; great-granddaughter, Paige Wrighton-Richardson. The family sends deepest appreciation to the CNA's and nurses at Avante and McGraw Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 10am, Friday, September 25, 2009 at Community Presbyterian Church, Atlantic Beach. Interment will follow at H. Warren Smith. Arrangement by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, (904) 249-2374.
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1917 - 2009 (92 years)
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