Scott Jay Burch

Scott Jay Burch of Columbus, Ohio by way of Detroit, Michigan passed away of heart failure in his home here in German Village on February the 2nd, 2026 at the age of 57. Scott was born 11/18/1968 in Fort Lee, Virginia to Rebecca Ann Dean (Becky O'Neal) and Timothy Robert Burch. Scott is preceded in death by his beloved mother Becky, his grandparents Robert (Pippi) and Marie (Mimi) Burch as well as Gerald and Elsie Dean and Lola, his uncles Jeff Burch and Gerald Dean, his mother-in-law Shay Winks and father-in-law Nick Winks, his grandmother-in-law Betty Miller, and his dog Lester.

Scott is survived by his loving husband Jason Daniel Winks and their dogs Ziggy and Freddie, his sister Kris Likert (Winston), his brothers-in-law Guy Winks (Karis), Ray Holtz (Barbara), Jeremy Winks (Sarah), and Richard Holtz (Amber), his nieces Lindsey Phythian-Kotch (Lance Henry Kotch, Lance, and Landon), Meghan Phythian (Randy Hjelm, Baker) and Kaitlyn Phythian (Chance Weber), Pheonix and Rinna Etheridge, Maddie, Kenzie, Ronnie, Gracie, Charlee and Harper, his nephews Corey, Logan, Nick, Sean, Noah, Will, Tyler, Marcus, Jonathan, Nathan, Justin, aunt Bobbie and uncle Chris, as well as his father Tim Burch (Darlene), aunts Tamora and Bethanne, uncle Gary, and cousin Josiah as well as many other friends and family who's lives he touched. If I've forgotten anyone, I'm incredibly sorry. Just know that he loved you and he would have remembered you. Except Larissa. Sorry girl, but he could NOT keep a hold of your name in his brain for years and years and years, after repeated reminders by me of what your name is before, during, or after every single family gathering. He always called you by the wrong name.

Scott "Scooter Bee" Burch had many jobs over the years. He had a low tolerance for utter nonsense and refused to bang his head up against walls repeatedly over stupidity, especially if he felt the job was only good for a paycheck and wasn't fulfilling spiritually. He was best remembered for his incredible food truck The Winking Scotsman, serving up delicious Scottish style meatpies with a wink, a laugh, a smile, and a lot of snark. He was also known for dedicating so much of his life to service in aid of others. From serving on Restorative Justice Circles in Columbus, Ohio to volunteer work for Stonewall Union to his work as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist, he knew how bad rock bottom could be for people and instead of judging people, he tried to help them. Instead of pointing a finger, he offered a hand up. With over three decades of sobriety under his belt, he used his experience, his empathy, his kindness, and our bank account to help people always. He protested, he voted, he marched, he donated, and he wrote scathing opinions on social media outlets. He gave folks rides to AA meetings, gave generously to charities, and would often stop with food or useful gifts for the unhoused he came across.

Scooter was a thoughtful, kind, silly, smart, quick, beautiful soul. He never wanted to be the center of attention, but he excelled at making others feel like the most interesting and important person in the room. He wasn't a people person, but he absolutely loved people. Even if he hated you, he still wished you well. Scott gave incredibly thoughtful or incredibly practical gifts. There was no in-between. You either got something really useful like flashlights, pots and pans, or giftcards to cool or fun places or you got intensely deeply personal gifts that he clearly really gave a lot of time and thought to.

Scott was also snarky and hilarious. He made me laugh constantly for years. After my first weekend at his mother's place in Michigan, she said she heard us laughing and giggling like children past 2am. She said this with a mother's knowing smile, clearly pleased her son had found someone to laugh like that with. I enjoyed our time with her immensely over the years and I miss her dearly. Like Scott, she was a funny lady. They were both quick with a quip and loved to laugh at the ridiculousness of people, though rarely with spite or malice and they didn't try to hurt people's feelings. They made fun of people behind their backs instead. It's called manners!

Scott was an introvert, but he was also the guy you wanted to be seated with a wedding reception. He would talk to you all night long, and not just small talk. He didn't really do that. If he asked how you were, he wanted an indepth reporting with notations, sidebars, sources cited, a bibliography, and yes, he DID want to know the entire story behind why and how you got that tattoo. No, no! Don't skip anything, start at the very beginning! He often wouldn't stay long at big gatherings, so if he stayed and was talking to you all night, that meant he genuinely found you interesting.

We had a system worked out. He'd show up near the beginning, as late as I'd allow us to get away with. Usually as soon as food was served and he finished his meal, it would suddenly be time for, "Oh, I just have to run home to feed and walk the dogs! I'll be right back!" Three hours later, he'd stroll in about 15-20 minutes before the event was ending and sort of act like he'd been around the whole time. I got all the socializing I needed as the extroverted one in our relationship, while he got a meal and then some time alone at home. Win/win! Beyond being a great guy to talk to, he was also hilarious and ridiculous. You never knew what sort of crazy might pop up out of him when you least expected. His sense of humor was bold and brash one day, subtle and sharp as a stiletto blade the next. We had catchphrases we could say to each other that would make us fall apart laughing. He made me want to be a better man. My horizons were expanded so much thanks to Scott and he taught me so much over the 18 years were were together. I'll love you forever booboo!

A memorial gathering will take place here in German Village on Sunday April 26th and then another in Howell, Michigan on Saturday May 2nd. Please contact Jason Winks for more details for either memorials. [email protected]