Obituary for Randolph Peyton Burch
Randolph “Randy” Peyton Burch, Sr passed away peacefully on Friday, the 28th of May 2021, at the age of 88.
The son of Virginia Frances Goodman Burch and James Reginald Burch, Randy was born in Houston on February 11, 1933. Losing his father when he was only 11, Randy prioritized family before everything, and his wife, children and grandchildren always knew he was there for them. He jokingly referred to his role as “benevolent dictator,” but it was certainly far more benevolence than dictatorship.
Randy graduated from Lamar High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. While serving in Germany, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Weichselbaumer in a chance meeting on a train during a weekend trip to Milan, Italy. He returned to Houston, graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA in Accounting, and earned his CPA certification.
He married Elizabeth on June 14, 1958, and they enjoyed almost 63 wonderful years together. Randy was a lover of all sports and spent countless hours in swimming pools, on baseball fields, and tennis and basketball courts. He was known by many as a great coach and mentor, offering his favorite advice to live life with grace and dignity, swing the bat, always bank your shots off the backboard, and use two hands on the backhand. “Coach Burch” will forever be remembered by the young men and women he influenced.
Together Randy and Elizabeth joyfully attended the thousands of games and events of their children. Family lore includes many stories of carpooling groups of kids through torrential downpours to get to the bleachers in time. Their grandchildren provided them more opportunities to expand their fandom, and Opa and Oma were frequent fixtures at many games and theatrical productions. Theirs was an incredible partnership.
Randy founded his CPA firm Burch & Co. on the day he passed the CPA exam, March 16, 1965. An early adopter of technology for the accounting profession, he built a national reputation with his firm Burch Consultants. He considered his employees to be family and his clients friends.
An avid hunter and tennis player, Randy loved sharing those activities with friends and family. He enjoyed hunting in the Texas Hill Country and playing tennis at the Briar Club well into his 80’s. He and his family were active members at the Briar Club for decades. He served in the Club as member of the Board of Directors, and most notoriously as head of the Swim/Outdoor Committee for years. For many reasons, including tolerating being pushed into the pool in celebration after many a victorious swim meet, the Randolph Burch Participation Award honors his impact at the Briar Club.
As a proud, native Houstonian, Randy was passionate about giving back to the community. In addition to serving multiple times as PTA president and on numerous boards of directors, Randy was called “Mr. Telethon” by those in the know. With his financial skills and innovative software, he supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Texas Children’s Miracle Network, UNCF, and Bob Hope Telethons for many years. He helped build the first Habitat for Humanity home in Houston. As a dedicated University of Houston alum who scheduled many days around Cougar basketball and football games, he was honored to serve on the UH Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board.
Randy is survived by his loving wife. He also leaves behind his son, Randolph Peyton Burch, Jr., his wife Cathy, of Houston, and their children Allison and Trent (“RPB III”) and his daughter, Marion Elizabeth Burch of Austin and her son Dylan James Cimbala. A loving and nurturing husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Randy will be deeply missed. The family would like to thank all the friends and West University neighbors who touched Randy’s life.
The family is honored that Randy’s former work colleague, Rev. Watson Holyfield V, will officiate his graveside service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St., on June 7, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider making a donation to MD Anderson.
https://gifts.mdanderson.org
The son of Virginia Frances Goodman Burch and James Reginald Burch, Randy was born in Houston on February 11, 1933. Losing his father when he was only 11, Randy prioritized family before everything, and his wife, children and grandchildren always knew he was there for them. He jokingly referred to his role as “benevolent dictator,” but it was certainly far more benevolence than dictatorship.
Randy graduated from Lamar High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. While serving in Germany, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Weichselbaumer in a chance meeting on a train during a weekend trip to Milan, Italy. He returned to Houston, graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA in Accounting, and earned his CPA certification.
He married Elizabeth on June 14, 1958, and they enjoyed almost 63 wonderful years together. Randy was a lover of all sports and spent countless hours in swimming pools, on baseball fields, and tennis and basketball courts. He was known by many as a great coach and mentor, offering his favorite advice to live life with grace and dignity, swing the bat, always bank your shots off the backboard, and use two hands on the backhand. “Coach Burch” will forever be remembered by the young men and women he influenced.
Together Randy and Elizabeth joyfully attended the thousands of games and events of their children. Family lore includes many stories of carpooling groups of kids through torrential downpours to get to the bleachers in time. Their grandchildren provided them more opportunities to expand their fandom, and Opa and Oma were frequent fixtures at many games and theatrical productions. Theirs was an incredible partnership.
Randy founded his CPA firm Burch & Co. on the day he passed the CPA exam, March 16, 1965. An early adopter of technology for the accounting profession, he built a national reputation with his firm Burch Consultants. He considered his employees to be family and his clients friends.
An avid hunter and tennis player, Randy loved sharing those activities with friends and family. He enjoyed hunting in the Texas Hill Country and playing tennis at the Briar Club well into his 80’s. He and his family were active members at the Briar Club for decades. He served in the Club as member of the Board of Directors, and most notoriously as head of the Swim/Outdoor Committee for years. For many reasons, including tolerating being pushed into the pool in celebration after many a victorious swim meet, the Randolph Burch Participation Award honors his impact at the Briar Club.
As a proud, native Houstonian, Randy was passionate about giving back to the community. In addition to serving multiple times as PTA president and on numerous boards of directors, Randy was called “Mr. Telethon” by those in the know. With his financial skills and innovative software, he supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Texas Children’s Miracle Network, UNCF, and Bob Hope Telethons for many years. He helped build the first Habitat for Humanity home in Houston. As a dedicated University of Houston alum who scheduled many days around Cougar basketball and football games, he was honored to serve on the UH Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board.
Randy is survived by his loving wife. He also leaves behind his son, Randolph Peyton Burch, Jr., his wife Cathy, of Houston, and their children Allison and Trent (“RPB III”) and his daughter, Marion Elizabeth Burch of Austin and her son Dylan James Cimbala. A loving and nurturing husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Randy will be deeply missed. The family would like to thank all the friends and West University neighbors who touched Randy’s life.
The family is honored that Randy’s former work colleague, Rev. Watson Holyfield V, will officiate his graveside service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St., on June 7, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider making a donation to MD Anderson.
https://gifts.mdanderson.org