Thomas Craig Burchett

Thomas Craig Burchett, 65, of Washington, died Monday, August 17, 2009, in Donnell House. He was born July 18, 1944, in Portsmouth, Ohio, a son of the late Tom and Garnet Craig Burchett. Mr. Burchett graduated from McGuffey High School. He served in the United States Army from July 9, 1963, until his honorable discharge on July 8, 1966, with a rank of Specialist, fourth class. During his service, he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. For 30 years he worked as an ironworker for Local 3 in Pittsburgh. Mr. Burchett was very involved in sports, both as a player and as a coach. In his younger years, he played semi-professional football for both the Washington Minors and the Washington Generals. Later, he coached many youth teams, including Patton Youth Football, Pinto Boys Baseball, the Wolfdate Girls Champion Flag Football Team and the National Invitational Women’s Championship Softball Team. Mr. Burchett was a member of James R. Hunt Post 639 of the American Legion. He had served on the Trinity School Board and was past president of the board at Western Area Vocational-Technical School. He was Baptist. On June 2, 1979, he married Susan Carol McConnell, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Thomas C. Burchett, II, and Timothy J. Burchett, both of Washington; three brothers, his twin, Timothy P. Burchett of Washington, Leland R. Burchett of East Liverpool, Ohio, and James F. Burchett of Washington. Friends will be received on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20th, with Rev. Fred Helmick officiating. Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Military rites will be accorded graveside by James R. Hunt Post 639 of the American Legion.