Roger Donald Burchfield
June 5, 1932 ~ January 13, 2024
Born in:
Judsonia, AR
Resided in:
Falls Church, VA
Roger, or “Roger B!” as family and friends affectionately called him, son of Benjamin and Ada (nee Willis) Burchfield, died of complications from congestive heart failure. He was born in Judsonia, Arkansas and grew up in Little Rock, where he attended Little Rock Community College and later George Washington University. Roger enlisted in the US Air Force in 1950, serving in the Weather Bureau. Notable assignments included being stationed in Turkey and Libya in support of Cold War deterrence and participating in atomic testing in the South Pacific. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Germany Occupation Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1954 as an Airman Second Class.
In 1955, he moved to the Washington DC area with his then wife, Jacquie, where they raised four children, Leslie Montague (Sterling Jr), Robin Burchfield, Meredith Le Grand (Thomas), and Andrew Burchfield (Stacy), after settling in Vienna, Virginia in 1959. He was predeceased by his daughter Robin and granddaughter Emily Montague. He was the very proud grandfather of six grandchildren: Lindsey, Sterling III, and Thomas (TC) Montague; Julia Wood (father William); Thomas and Sophia Burchfield; and nine great-grandchildren: Wren Campbell; Jonah, Lacey, Samuel, April, Benjamin, Sterling IV, Wendy, and Owen Montague.
Roger enjoyed life with a unique sense of humor and had a varied career that included: pharmaceutical representative with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, health lab management, real estate sales, car sales, and his favorite, driving cars for Ford Motor Company, as he was happiest on the road. He was an avid crossword puzzler and newspaper reader, dabbled in writing poetry, enjoyed singing barbershop music for many years with the Fairfax Jubil-Aires, and loved a good piano bar. He especially enjoyed following the Washington Redskins/Commanders and the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. In his later years, his greatest joy was hearing about all the endeavors of his grandchildren and visiting with his great-grandchildren.
A private ceremony will be held at a later date when his ashes will be inurned at
Arlington National Cemetery.
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Sadly we lost touch with all the Burchfields over the years but have many happy memories of playing penny poker and learning to play Bridge together when all the children were small.