LIFE SKETCH FOR ALLEN BLAIN BURCHFIELD

Al was born January 7, 1938 in Franklin, PA. He was raised on a farm by his grandparents, where he grew up plowing the fields with a horse-drawn plow, attending Primary grades in a one-room schoolhouse. When he was in high school, he was able to reconnect with his mother, Vera. He was 6'4", however his sweet Mom was only 4'9". Al told stories of Vera getting flustered with him so she would ask him to pick her up so she could smack him…obediently, he would oblige.

Al was a very athletic young man, lettered in all 4 major sports at Franklin High. Because of his vast knowledge of sports and his love of volunteering with Children, Al became a Little League Plate Umpire and continued for over 20 years. Once while serving in the Navy, a fellow sailor invited him to come play golf. He told him it was a ridiculous game, all the players do is chase the silly white ball, however after playing that first game, he realized how difficult it really was. Al eventually fell in love with Golf, and continued this love affair throughout the rest of his life. He never missed a televised tournament. One of his treasured photographs is a picture of him on the 18th Tee at Pebble Beach.

Immediately following High School, Al enlisted in the Navy where he served his country for 21 years. He spent the majority of his service at Sea on Destroyers. This is when he got the nickname "Chief" that stayed with him throughout his life. Toward the end of his Naval career, he was assigned to Troop Transport ships that shuttled Marines to and from the Vietnam conflict.

After Al was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1976, he continued his education earning a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. With his experience, Al spent the rest of his working career teaching Computer-Aided Education in Military Weaponry.

Al passed away peacefully at home with family on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. Such a blessing that he was taken quickly at the end, after a raging bacterial infection and years of Parkinson's Disease literally took him off his feet. Al is survived by his loving Wife Lynn, his 2 sons, Phillip and Tom. His youngest son, Dominic, has preceded him in death. Al also had 3 step-children, Gwen, Don and Julie, 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren who loved him dearly.

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