KILMARNOCK—Alfred Lee Burkholder Sr., 87, of Kilmarnock, formerly of South Boston and Lynchburg, passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Duke University Hospital. He was the loving and devoted husband of Marilyn Yates Burkholder for 65 years.
Born on February 26, 1934, in Bedford County, he was the son of the late Richard Lee Burkholder Jr. and Beatrice Baker Burkholder.
Al was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who cherished his family. He received his master’s in hospital administration at the Medical College of Virginia in 1961. He served as administrator of Bedford County Memorial Hospital for three years and retired as president of Halifax Regional Hospital in 1981.
Al was active in civic affairs. He was president of the Virginia Hospital Association, chairman of the City of South Boston School Board, president of South Boston Bank and Trust, board member of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia.
Al graduated from Boonsboro High School in 1953 and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Richmond (UR) where he graduated with a bachelor’s in 1957. At UR, Al was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and chairman of the honor council. Most importantly, Al was lucky to marry the love of his life, Marilyn, while attending UR.
Al always planned to retire at 50 and enjoy the next stage of his life.
Al was an avid sailor. He sailed Cimba, a 41-foot sloop, on the Chesapeake Bay for 30 years. He tied the sailboat up at the dock of the house that he and Marilyn built on Indian Creek in the Northern Neck, near Kilmarnock. He enjoyed sitting on the deck looking at the water. Al and Marilyn wintered on Cimba in Florida for 20 years. In November, they took the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida and returned in May.
Al was a member of Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kilmarnock.
In addition to his wife, Al leaves to cherish his memory three children, Alfred Lee Burkholder Jr. and Richard Terry Burkholder of South Boston and Brenda Faye Burkholder of Weems; six grandchildren, Marilyn Faye Conner (Chad) of Nathalie, Sarah Elizabeth Choun (Tim) of Dumfries, Alfred Lee Burkholder III (Kendall), Lleyton Isaac Burkholder of South Boston, Erik Lee Michael DeMario and Virginia Erika DeMario of Weems; five great-grandchildren, Kenlee Ryan Burkholder, Levi James Burkholder, Liam Nash Burkholder, Hunter Michael Conner and Harper Faye Conner; a brother, Lynn Baker Burkholder (Donna) of New Bern, N.C.; and many other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Al’s Life will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, February 11, in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Service with burial to follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg. Afterwards, family and friends will gather at the Cavalier on Rivermont Avenue for lunch.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Alfred Burkholder Sr. to the charity of your choice.
Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory 427 Graves Mill Road Lynchburg, 434-239-2405 is assisting the family. Memories and thoughts may be shared with the family at www.heritagefuneralandcremation.com.
