The Wife & Family of Walter Burnham (R.I.P. Dad)

Hello, my name is Chris Burnham, the son of Walter & Mary Burnham. I'm creating this fundraiser to help my mother during a very difficult time in her life. My father, Walter Burnham, 78 years old passed away unexpectedly on May 10th, 2023, due to injuries sustained from a fall. On April 28, 2023, my father was walking up to the porch of his house and tripped and fell to the ground. He hit his head on some brick pavers when he fell, breaking his neck, right side of his nasal cavity, nose, and upper right rear of his jaw. None of us were expecting to lose my father because he fell on the ground.

My father and mother will have been married for 54 years in June 2023. My father is the love of my mother's life and has always been the provider for her. My father spent the younger part of his life in Gulf County, FL until he joined the United States Army serving in the Korean Conflict. He served his country with pride and was prepared to give his life to protect it and our freedoms. After the military, my father moved to Panama City, Florida and went to work at Tommy Thomas Chevrolet as a mechanic until he eventually landed his career job at the Panama City Papermill as a millwright mechanic. He worked thirty – eight years before retiring and moving to Greenhead, Florida. My father was a very talented craftsman and fabricator that could make something out of nothing. He enjoyed all sorts of woodworking which included cabinets, crafts, and what knots. My father had a passion for bass fishing so much so that he was a founding member of the Miracle Strip Bass Club. He also participated in the many Bass Master Classic Bass Tournaments in the 1980’s and was even named the “Champion of Champions” by the Pensacola News Herald. Over the years, he won many awards, trophies, and was in quite a few newspaper/magazine articles celebrating his many bass fishing accomplishments. My father will be remembered as a man with a kind heart that always took care of his fellow man. My father had a heart of gold and grew fond of many people, spreading his friendship and love to everyone he met; he was never afraid to tell someone that he loved them. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

My father told me time and time again that he had a life insurance policy of $150,000 but unfortunately about 5 days before he passed away, I found out that he did not have life insurance as he could not afford it any longer living on a fixed income. He received a small retirement check and an even smaller social security check. My mother only receives a very small social security check every month. My father had very limited VA Benefits from the Army and fought for over 20 years to get the benefits he was justly entitled to but was denied every time he tried and could not get any help from them.

I'm not the type of person that asks for handouts by any means, but now I need help more than ever so that my mother can stay in the home my father built during 2000-2002. I'm asking for your help and support so that I can potentially raise enough money to pay the mortgage company off, pay for his funeral and the other financial responsibilities that my father leaves her with. Any amount will help more than you know.

I along with my entire family appreciate your consideration, kindness, understanding, thoughtfulness, generosity, and prayers during this very difficult time. Thank you.