April 12, 2011

HARRISVILLE, N.Y.   —  Charles D. “Chappy” Burge, 79, Juniper Hills and Lake Bonaparte, went to be with the Lord on Monday afternoon, April 11, surrounded by his family.

He was the son of the late John T. and Rachel Stafford Burge of Christiana, Del. 

Mr. Burge was raised in Christiana, Del., and was an active member of the United Methodist Church there. He also played on several baseball teams in his youth. He graduated from Newark High School in 1949 and worked for the DuPont Co. before serving  during the Korean War in Japan. He was discharged as a sergeant first class.

He married Eileen Blundon, daughter of the Rev. Arthur Blundon, on July 3, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Milford, Del.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Washington College, Chestertown, Md., in 1959. He then received two master’s degrees- a master’s of divinity in 1962 and a master’s in religious education in 1964 from Colgate Rochester Crozer Theological Seminary.

After 10 years in the pastorate in Delaware and Maryland, he entered active duty as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. He and his wife were stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., Valley Forge General Hospital, Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the Army Chaplains School, where he received another master’s degree in counseling from Long Island University.

Chappy served two tours in Vietnam, 1966 to 1967 and 1972 to 1973. After being in stationed in Alaska for three years, he received a doctorate from the U.S. International University and was selected by the Army Chief of Chaplains to spend a year’s residency at Yale- New Haven Hospital, in clinical pastoral education. He then was assigned to a three year assignment at Landstuhl General Hospital in Germany. He served as staff chaplain at Fort Drum for three years from 1981 to 1984. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1984

He was the recipient of a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Following retirement, he and his wife established Tri–County Counseling Services in Natural Bridge and became counselors with the Department of Veterans Affairs. They provided readjustment counseling for Vietnam veterans for 13 years.

He was a member of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church, and recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination.

LTC Burge loved to be around people, skiing, sailing, boating, and traveling. Family was very important to him.

He is survived by his wife, three children Terry A. and Anne Burge, Anchorage, Alaska, Brenda Eileen, Wasilla, Alaska, and Danny; two grandchildren, Jason and Janelle Burge, Anchorage Alaska.

He was predeceased by a brother, Ralph, and a son, Douglas Arthur, who died in infancy.

His funeral will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at Harrisville United Methodist Church. Calling hours will be from 9 to 11 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Adirondack Funeral Home, Harrisville. 

Online condolences may be made at www.adirondackfh.com.

In place of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Harrisville United Methodist Church Maple St. Harrisville, NY 13648 or the Christiana United Methodist Church 21 W Main St, Christiana, DE 19702 .

Information provided by Adirondack Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.