The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Orange Lillie Laura (Bill) Burch of Orange died on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at the age of 99 years, 9 months and 13 days. Funeral services will be held at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 with Chuck Burch, her nephew, officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Born on April 18, 1910, in Shelby County, Texas, she was the second child born to the union of Willie and Callie (Withers) Belsha. 

Bill was reared in the Anacoca and Hornbeck area of Louisiana. She lived in Pitkin, La., and has lived in Orange for many years. She loved quilting, making dolls and crafts. In days gone by, Bill enjoyed quilting at the Thrift and Gift Shop. She always remembered being at the meeting to organize the shop. She was a member of the McDonald Memorial Baptist Church.

Bill was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Burch; son-in-law, Johnny Martin; great-granddaughter, Jeannie Willis; and great-great-granddaughters, Makenzie, Makaela, and Makenna Clark; brothers, Henry, Homer, Lonzie, Toy; and sisters, Edna and Lela also preceded her in death.

Survivors are her daughter and son-in-law, Sybil and John Hughes of Orange; and daughter, Anna Rose (Ann) Martin of Leesville, La.; and her sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Jerry Snell and Lester and Dorothy Snell, all of Pitkin.

Her surviving grandchildren are Laura Clark and Emily Geldard of Orangefield, Tina McElhaney of Moss Bluff, La., Mike Snell, Anthony Snell, Clarence Snell, Homer Snell, Rusty Martin, Gail Walton and Carolyn Gill of Pitkin; also Dianne Woreland of Alexandria, La., Dwayne Martin of Leesville and Anna Marie Templeton of Baytown.

She is also survived by 29 great-grandchildren and one to be born Feb. 8; 27 great-great-grandchildren and nine great-great-great-grandchildren and one to be born in May.

Pallbearers will be Trey Clark, Steven Geldard, Rusty Martin, Anthony Snell, Terrell Burch and Robert Harper.

Our mother’s life has been an inspiration to us, her family. She was a strong independent woman who has left us a legacy of love.