Charles David Burkholder

Charles David Burkholder, loving husband, father, and grandfather was called home to the Lord on Tuesday evening, October 14th, 2025, after a short but brave battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He was 89 years old, born on the 23rd of April 1936 in New Market, Virginia. Charles was the youngest son of Preston E. Burkholder and Mary O. Burkholder of New Market, Virginia. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sandra R. Burkholder; his sons, Brett Ashby Burkholder, and Charles Todd Burkholder; his daughters, Nina Adele Burdette, and Mary Nicole (Shipman) Law (Justin Law); his grandchildren, Timothy Chase Burdette, Michael Austin Burkholder, Chloe Adele Burdette, Madeline Paige Shipman, Mackenzie Hope Shipman, and John Parker Shipman; and multiple nieces and nephews.
Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Preston E. Burkholder and Mary O. Burkholder of New Market, Virginia; his maternal grandparents, David L. Osborne and Alice F. Osborne of Forestville, Virginia; his paternal grandparents, Charles F. Burkholder and Jane F. Burkholder of New Market, Virginia; his 5 siblings, P. Elwood Burkholder, Robert O. Burkholder, Patricia Lee Fultz, Alice J. Bradley, and Mary Jane Souder Yanchek; and his granddaughter, Alexandra Rose Burkholder.
Charles graduated from New Market High School in 1955. Upon graduation, he attended James Madison University, where he earned an Associate's Degree. He was a veteran of the Army National Guard of Virginia. He served from 1959 to 1965, beginning as a Rifleman (Marksman Rifle M-1), promoted to Infantryman, and Honorably Discharged as SGTE5 and Tank Commander (Marksman Badge, Pistol Cal.45), C Company, 116th Infantry Regiment. He was a member of the Jaycees in Harrisonburg, Virginia and a Charter Member at Saint Andrews Lutheran Church in Franklin, Tennessee. His corporate career spanned more than 45 years, starting in Virginia, moving him further south to Tennessee and finally settling him in Snellville, Georgia in 1976. He started his career in Sales with Leggett's Department Store in Harrisonburg, Virginia and worked his way up the ranks to become a floor manager. In 1969, he began his Fortune 500 journey as a Corporate Sales Manager with Prince Matchabelli (a legendary fragrance company and division of Chesebrough-Ponds). In 1987, Charles accepted a Key Accounts Manager position with another Fortune 500 company, Pentel Pens. He was recognized with multiple regional sales awards during his time with Prince Matchabelli. In addition, he was honored as the recipient of the "1991 Samurai Award" / National Salesman of the Year for Pentel Pens. He was honored by the company with the gift of a genuine Samurai Warrior Sword and had the opportunity to travel to Japan and Hong Kong to visit the Pentel Pens headquarters with his wife Sandy. After his retirement in 1996, he determined that retirement was "too boring" and that he wanted to feel like he still had "a purpose". He continued to work in various corporate sales positions and finally spent his last years working at Lowes as a Sales Associate. He was a true "people person". He made friends wherever he went, lived to joke around with his fellow associates, loved helping customers find what they needed and educating them on how to get the job done. He was a Renaissance man, a Jack of all trades. He could fix anything, including repairing appliances, reupholstering furniture, repairing drywall, electrical work, plumbing, you name it. Charles was charming, charismatic, a skilled public speaker and he could cut a rug on the dance floor. He was loved by so many and will be truly missed. Charlie's legacy will forever remain that he fiercely loved his family and devoted his life to the service of others.
Funeral services will be held at Byrd & Flanigan Crematory and Funeral Services, 288 Hurricane Shoals Rd, NE Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046 on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 12 noon. Rev. David E. Hardy, D.D., pastor of Living Grace Lutheran Church officiating. In accordance with the family's wishes, cremation has taken place. A private inurnment will occur at a later date at Emmanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in New Market, Virginia. There will be a time of visitation with friends and family from
10:30 am until the time of the service.
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