Robert "Bob" Burchinal

Robert G. "Bob" Burchinal, died Monday, June 8, 2009. Bob was born on September 7, 1935, to Frank Earl Burchinal and Cora Hastings Burchinal at Morgantown, West (by God) Virginia. Bob was the youngest of six children. His childhood was spent on the family farm at Cheat Lake, WV. During these years, he acquired his love of hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. He honed his hunting skills on the squirrels, woodchuck and deer in the hardwood forests surrounding the family home. Bob enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 16. This career spanned 20 years, (and eight days as Bob would always remind us) and included a year of service in Vietnam, assigned to MAC-V Headquarters in Saigon. During his last nine years of service, he was assigned as an instructor in the survival school at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. Bob retired from the Air Force in 1970. He started his second career as Administrator for the State of Washington, Office of Support Enforcement, Central Washington District. This career spanned 23 years. Bob was very proud of his accomplishments with this agency, playing a key role in developing this important program to its current capabilities. Shortly after beginning his career with Support Enforcement, Bob met and married his wife, Darline. Together, they embarked on a career in the apple orchard industry. They partnered with friends in orchards in Royal Slope and owned orchards in Orondo and East Wenatchee. During this time, Bob developed a new variety of Red Delicious, which he named Adams Apple Red and for which he holds the patent. This unusual variety of apple is in its full red color upon emergence from the blossom. Bob retired from his position with the state in 1993, and became a full-time orchardist. He and Darline also spent as much time as possible traveling. Their favorite destinations were Mexico, Arizona and Montana. Bob was a long-time member of Gyro International and a proud member of the NRA. He was a past member of the Wenatchee Golf & Country Club and the Wenatchee Elks Club. Bob is survived by his wife of 35 years, Darline; one child, Michelle LeBeau of Seattle; and five stepchildren, Arne Stevens of Boise, ID, Connie Stevens of East Wenatchee, Alyce Stevens Dodson (James) of Orondo, Lynn Hovik (Neal) of Duval and Rosemary Young of Spokane. He is also survived by two sisters in West Virginia, Dorothy Cain and Thelma Cox. Bob had 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Bill, Frank and Delbert; and one daughter, Diana Glaser. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements assisted by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.

Robert "Bob" Burchinal

September 7, 1935 - June 8, 2009