Carl A. "Bud" Burch, son of Maurine Allen "Morris" (1906-1984) and Myrtle Adell (Bird) (1907-1998), was born 29 January 1936, Ingham County, Michigan.  Bud graduated with the class of 1955 from Okemos High School but under special circumstances.  The 1955 Tomahawk yearbook printed the following next to Bud's yearbook picture; "Every smile is a battle won." "Bud has followed all our school activities through the school year, though he could not be here because of his accident.  It is with real happiness that we count him among our Seniors at graduation time."

Bud was involved, along with 3 other youths, in a rollover accident in July 1954.  Bud's back was broken and he was permanently paralyzed.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 25 July 1954

MASON YOUTH HURT AS CAR ROLLS OVER

Carl Burch, 18, of 3549 Indiana rd., R. 4, Mason, received back injuries and a possible broken back Saturday night when a car in which he was riding turned over and crashed at Meridian and Kinneville rds.

Burch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Burch, was taken to Mason General hospital.

The accident occurred when George L. Willits, 21, 3282 Hulett rd., lost control of the car as he attempted to make a right turn off Meridian rd. onto Kinneville rd., according to sheriff's officers.  The car rolled over and crashed.

Willits and two other passengers in the car, Dale Grettenberger, 21, of R. 2., Okemos, and Robert Leiby, 19, of 4717 N. Okemos rd., were uninjured.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 12 September 1954

OKEMOS

Backfield talent will be the problem of Coach Ed Kiley and assistant coaches Bob Baker and Dick Way as football practice gets under way for the Chiefs.

Usually it's graduation which causes coaches the trouble but that is not the case at Okemos.  The holes in the backfield came about when Lyle Davis, a halfback, dropped from school at the end of last semester, and Carl Burch, a fullback, was injured in an automobile accident this summer.

Bud learned to drive a car with hand gears.  With this he was able to attend and graduate from the Lansing Business University.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 11 August 1961

Joseph F. Lamurri, 35, of Saginaw, a pedestrian, was the victim of a two-car collision at the intersection of Kalamazoo and S. Grand ave., at 1:22 p.m.

He was crossing Kalamazoo st. when two cars collided at the intersection.  The westbound vehicle operated by Asa L. Beverly, 79, of 1212 W. St. Joseph st., was thrown out of control and veered southwest.  Iamurri ran in an attempt to get out of the way but was brushed and suffered bruises to his left leg and was taken to St. Lawrence hospital.  The vehicle, after striking the pedestrian, went over the curb and came to a stop in the front yard of the Archie Tarpoff restaurant.  Beverly was cited for failure to yield.  Police said he ran a red light and into the path of a southbound car driven by Carl A. Burch, 25, of R. 3, Okemos.

Carl went on to be employed by the State of Michigan.  He married, had a daughter and lived for 57 years with his wheelchair.  He was also, for a season, a member of the Meridian Township Zoning Board.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 11 December 1997

MERIDIAN TWP. - Carl Burch looks out onto snow and slush-covered sidewalks with a different kind of distaste.

The Okemos resident has used a wheelchair for more than 40 years and dreads the obstacles that bad weather creates.

That's why he is disappointed with a 3-2 decision Wednesday by the township Zoning Board of Appeals that allows Meijer Inc., to waive a requirement to cut six handicapped parking spaces next to its building at 2055 W. Grand River Ave.

"If you have a wheelchair...try to go through the slush today," he said.  "Just try it once.  I have.  I've been trying it for 40-some years."  He did not attend the meeting.

Burch was a member of the zoning board when it originally ordered Meijer to put the handicapped spaces next to its building.

Bud married Judith Louise "Judy" Baker in about 1980.  The enjoyed 29 years together.  Judy, born 11 August 1946, succumbed to cancer 3 April 2009.  Bud died 23 February 2011.  Bud and Judy were interred East Lawn Memory Gardens, Okemos, Ingham County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 24 February 2011

CARL A. "BUD" BURCH

OKEMOS

Carl A. "Bud" Burch passed away Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at the age of 75.  He graduated from Okemos High School in 1955, and attended LBU.  Bud worked in refrigeration, and for the State of Michigan in the Department of Social Services.  After retirement, he and his wife, Judy worked with Kris Bergland in the manufacturing of Also Salt.  He was a Trustee for Meridian Township.

Surviving are his daughter, Lisa Burch; grandchildren, Zaydn and Rayna-Faith Burch; sisters, Norma (Mel) Robbins, Carol (Ron) Foorman, Alice (Nick) Scamuffo, Marion (Jody) LaClear, all of Lansing, and Marlene (Jerry) Hunt, of Georgia; and sister-in-law, Elaine Burch.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, in 2009, and brothers, Harry and Harold Burch.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel with Pastor Joe Rabindeau officiating. Interment will follow in East Lawn Memory Gardens.

Editor's note:  Bud and family lived up the road from us.  He often hung, as a teenager, around my Dad's shop, Paty's Auto Parts.  At one time his brother Harry managed Dad's Sinclair Service Station on the corner of Okemos and Cavanaugh (now Jolly) Roads.

Dad liked Bud and I can remember him talking about the tragic accident.  Later Dad helped create a car Bud could drive using total hand controls.  Dad was more than pleased with the car's handling ability.  And I too remember one time seeing the car at the shop when it needed servicing.  Curious I looked inside and didn't really see anything, much to my disappointment!    

Sherrie Paty Barber '66           August 10, 2018