Richard S. Birch, Jr. , 91, of Lynchburg, Va. died on Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg. He was the loving and devoted husband for nearly 71 years to his high school sweetheart Patricia Cooper Birch.
Dick was born on May 16, 1926, in Burlington, N.J., and was the son and only child of the late Richard S. Birch, Sr. and Catharine Beugless Birch.
After attending Staunton Military Academy, and graduating from the Episcopal Academy in Overbrook, Pa., Dick spent 2 years in the United States Navy, being honorably discharged in 1946. Travelling across the country to attend the University of California at Berkeley, he earned his electrical engineering degree in 1948. Heading back east with his beloved wife Pat, Dick started his engineering career with the Philco Corp. in Philadelphia. He moved his growing family to Florida in 1950 where he worked for several electronic and communications firms until starting his own company in the Miami area.
In 1966, Dick and family moved to Lynchburg, beginning a career with G.E. that included engineering and management positions until retirement at the end of 1987. In retirement, he and Pat enjoyed travelling throughout the U.S. and many interesting parts of the world. Most of these excursions are well documented in his high quality and extremely informative videos that became a pastime that Dick immersed himself in with the enthusiasm that characterized any project he undertook. Living in Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg for the past 15 years, he diligently volunteered in various capacities on the Resident’s Council, including serving as Chair of the Council, and was a strong supporter of the Westminster community.
In addition to his wife Pat, Dick is survived by four children, Richard S. Birch III and his wife Janet, of Fernandina Beach, FL: Robert A. Birch and his wife Joan, of Coral Gables, FL: Randy H. Birch and his wife Mioara, of Jacksonville, FL: and Cathy J. Lawhorn and husband Rick Remillard of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Additionally, he is survived by 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous friends that he so much enjoyed.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Westminster Canterbury’s Weissert Chapel, 501 VES Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church or Westminster Canterbury’s Fellowship Fund.
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