James Burcham - Obituary

n Sunday, September 21, 2008, James Samuel Burcham, Sr., 81, passed away after a one-year illness at his residence in Davidsonville, Maryland where he had lived for 38 years. He was formerly of New Carrollton, MD . Mr. Burcham was born on October 27, 1926 in Elkin, North Carolina. He graduated from Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD. He was an Engineering Designer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where he retired in 1981. Mr. Burcham served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. Mr. Burcham built two of the homes he and family lived in. He was a former President and Treasurer of the Davidsonville Athletic Association and A member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville. He enjoyed traveling, golf, cooking and working in his workshop. He is survived by his wife, Christina A. Burcham, whom he married on January 31, 1947, three sons, Jim Burcham of Dunkirk, MD, John Burcham of Edgewater, MD, and Joe Burcham of Arnold, MD, and six daughters, Margaret Bradley of Gambrills, MD, Christina Marrano of Westminster, MD, Kathi Heron of Arnold, MD, Debbie Burcham of Crofton, MD, Mary Jersild of Westminister, MD, and Patty Burcham of Crofton, MD. He is also survived by two brothers, Robert Burcham of Columbia, MD, and John Burcham of Charlestown, West Virginia, and one sister, Kathleen Land of Huntington, MD, 13 Grandchildren and 5 Great-Grandchildren. A celebration of Jim's life will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD 21035. Interment will follow at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church.