William BURCHENAL Jr.

BURCHENAL, William Jr.

88, passed away on December 28, 2016 at his home on Clearwater Beach. Bill was born and raised in Glendale, OH. He attended Kenyon College, received a BA from Eckerd College and a Master's from the University of South Florida. He was inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for scholarship in the field of History. He also served in the Army Air Corps as an electrical engineer during the Korean War. In his professional career he wore many hats including ad man, businessman, developer, real estate broker, and citrus grower. In 1998 he founded Cee Bee's Citrus. The grove started with a skeleton crew working a small patch of neglected trees. He eventually grew the business into a 300 acre farm that services consumers and restaurants with fresh fruit, juice, and vegetables throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Bill was also a philanthropist and community leader. He served as a Trustee on numerous boards including Morton Plant Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital Foundation (Chairman), Anclote Manor, Carlouel Yacht Club, and Eckerd College. He was a member of the vestry at Church of the Ascension and one of the founders of Saint Paul's School where he also served as the first Chairman of the Board.

Bill had a taste for adventure through out his life. As a young man he took up sailboat racing, eventually participating in numerous open water racing events including several races from Florida to Cuba. His love of the water never left him. He paddled the boundary waters of Canada, snorkeled the reefs of the Caribbean, and fished tarpon off Boca Grande. As an avid traveler, Bill visited five continents taking in the planet's wonders and marveling at mankind's technical accomplishments. He was an avid music fan, a jazz drummer, and a playwright. His tennis serve would make your head spin, his golf drive was long and straight, and he had a swagger in the saddle that reminded one of John Wayne.

Above all else, nothing was a source of greater happiness and pride than his family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was never happier than when he was surrounded by loved ones sharing stories of the past and hopes for the future.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Ann Kennedy Burchenal; his daughter Ann Burchenal Shockley (Pannie) and husband Lee; his son William Kennedy Burchenal (Ken) and wife Gina; his daughter Mary Burchenal Sibson (Jodi) and husband Jim; his son Andrew Burchenal and wife Amy; his brother Ralph Burchenal and wife Toone; his sister Beth Jones; his grandsons Adam Burchenal and Will Sibson; and his granddaughters Wynne Burchenal, Deandra Stap, Darby Shockley, Katherine Sibson, and Dorian Wey and her husband Alex.

A memorial Service will be held at The Church of The Ascension January 3, at 3 pm, 701 Orange Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to: Saint Paul's School, 1600 St. Paul's Dr., Clearwater, FL 33764; Church of the Ascension, 701 Orange Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756; Morton Plant Hospital Foundation, 1200 Druid Rd. S, Belleair, FL 33756; Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711; or to The University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620. Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Clearwater, Florida.