Jay W. Burch was born February 8, 1926, in Geary and departed this life Sunday, June 5, 2011, in Prague at the age of 85.

J. W., the son of Edward Rueben and Faye Iris McDonald Burch, was a longtime resident of Prague.

He married Marie Clevenger on May 7, 1946, in El Reno.

J. W. proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He was awarded a purple heart and bronze service star for his service in the Battle of the Bulge in Europe.

He was a farmer, a policeman at El Reno, and the city marshal of Boynton. He retired from Tinker Air Force Base.

He enjoyed raising and racing horses and later got into the cattle business. Just like Will Rogers, everyone who knew J.W. liked him!

His parents; three brothers, Donald, Forney, and Billy Joe; and two sisters, Pauline and Irene, preceded J. W. in death.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Marie Burch, of the home; sons, Jim Burch, of Prague; and Melvin Burch, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren, Justin Burch, of Oklahoma City; Michael Burch and his wife, Karen, of Saginaw, Texas; and Angela Smith and her husband, Jason, of Mountain House, California; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague with Dennis and Shirley Clevenger and Freeman Whitlock officiating.

Interment will follow at the Prague Cemetery in Prague.

Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.

A guestbook is available to share your memories online. Please visit www.ParksBrothers.net.

Published June 6, 2011.