Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William Marlin Burge, Sr. and Glendora Hummel Burge Heinrich; his son, Robert Linn Burge; and grandson, Michael Andrew Burge.
He is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Edna Lee Karcher Burge; sister, Nancy Heinrich (Phillip) Peterson; sons, Edward (Suzanne) Burge, Allen (Janis) Burge and Norman (Linda) Burge; daughter, Susan Diane (“Rusty”) Williams; nine grandchildren, Steven (Charlene) Burge, John Burge, Scott (Lauren) Burge, Michele (Mike) Sok, Amanda (Spencer) Burgett, Mitchell Williams, Marlin (Erin) Williams and Bruce (Kaitlyn) Williams; eleven great-grandchildren, Andrew and Greyson Burge, Sam and Reagan Burge, Matthew and Emma Sok, Hayden, Gavin and Tristan Burgett, Charley Williams and Kade Williams; two step-grandsons (with spouses) Brian and Anne Herman and Scott and Stephanie Herman; four step-great-grandchildren, Bradon and wife, Olyvia, and Jake, Keaton and Anna Claire Herman; sibling-in-law, Rosie Karcher Davis; one nephew, two nieces, six grand-nephews/nieces and many cousins.
Bill was born on January 5, 1926 in Brownwood, Texas. He graduated from Patti Welder High School. The family later moved and settled in Victoria, Texas. A veteran of the Second World War, he trained as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps and was discharged on October 29, 1945, after the war ended. He hitchhiked back from the army base in San Antonio, Texas. He met his wife, Edna, in December after several visits to the drive-in carhop restaurant where she worked. He worked as a surveyor and drafter for the City of Victoria for a year. Engaged in May 1946, they married on June 1, 1947 and lived for a few months in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Bill worked at the Naval Air Station doing drafting and electrical work. Then they moved back to Victoria to be close to family.
Bill worked many jobs as a young man and father. After returning to Victoria, he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad until 1949, inspecting and surveying rail lines to the South Texas Valley region. On March 15, 1950, Bill and Edna moved into their home built in a pasture on the outskirts of Victoria. He spent 9 months in 1950 laying pipe line in New Jersey and the Hudson River. He worked 7 years at Foster Field in Victoria doing drafting and electrical work.
Bill and Edna had four sons before moving to Moses Lake, Washington in 1958 to work at Larson Air Force Base. Missing family in Victoria, they moved to Beeville, Texas in November 1961. Bill worked for the next 20 years in the Civil Engineering department at Chase Field Naval Air Station. In 1962, they finally had a daughter. After retirement, they moved back to the Victoria home in May 1981.
He will be lovingly remembered by family as a hard-working man of many talents and hobbies: ham radio, radio controlled planes, dancing, bowling, golfing, beer making, gardening, and (in retirement) art and sailplaning.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 5-7pm at Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 10am at Colonial Funeral Home, with burial following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Steven Burge, John Burge, Scott Burge, Mitchell Williams, Marlin Williams and Bruce Williams.
The family would like to think Retama Manor South nursing home, New Century Hospice and nurses, Shelby Garza and Sergio Velez for their loving care for Bill.
