Willard Burch

Willard Jasper Burch, son of the late Otto Jasper and Floetta Elna (McCune) Burch, was born September 2, 1939, in Dunn, Missouri, and went to his home in Heaven on September 26, 2023, in Independence, Missouri. He was 84 years and 24 days of age.

Willard grew up in Texas County, Missouri, and attended school through the eighth grade at the one room school house in Dunn. He attended high school in Mountain Grove and graduated with the class of 1957. Willard was united in marriage to Ginger Viola King on September 25, 1969, in Anacortes, Washington.

Willard was saved and baptized at an early age and began preaching the gospel at the age of nine. Willard also began working as an auto body and fender technician while in high school. He mastered the craft and had a great eye and love for repairing and restoring automobiles. He was a very talented singer and guitar player as well. He was one of the members of “The Roving Gospelairs”, a local gospel trio comprised of himself, Frankie McCune, Doris McCune, and Delores Shelton. Willard enjoyed sharing the gospel through message and song. He was known as a man who truly loved God.

Willard is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Ginger Burch of the home; two sons, Frank Burch and wife, Cari, of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Donald Lough of McAlester, Oklahoma; seven daughters, Ramona Lough of Mountain Grove, Arletta Nelson of Houston, Missouri, Dawn Salyards and husband, Jody Grantham, of Aurora, Colorado, Lynn Robustelini and husband, Jerry, of Wasilla, Alaska, Teresa Fredricks and husband, Steven, of Ponder, Texas, Elaine Burch of Mountain Grove, and Ginger Rose McRae of Springfield, Missouri, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and a multitude of cousins and friends who will miss him greatly.