Walter Marsh Burckhalter

AIKEN, SC – Walter Marsh Burckhalter, 88, passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Funeral services will be held 3:30 PM Saturday, April 22, 2017 at St. John’s United Methodist Church with The Reverend Dr. Timothy McClendon officiating. The family will receive guests following the service in Ward Hall. A private family burial will be held preceding the service in historic Bethany Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be the Fellowship Sunday School Class. Born in Aiken on November 1, 1928, Mr. Burckhalter was the son of the late Llewellyn Jarrett and Helen Marsh Burckhalter. Walt played all sports while at Aiken High School and was voted the outstanding player in football his senior year.   He graduated from Newberry College in 1951.  While at Newberry, he lettered in football, baseball, basketball, and golf.  Newberry' s baseball team was undefeated his senior year.  The well-known sportswriter, Grantland Rice, wrote that that team could have easily been one of the best college baseball teams ever assembled. He had been told that he was one of the only living persons in SC to have lettered in four sports in college.  He was drafted into the Marines and was stationed at Parris Island after graduating from college.  He made the Parris Island baseball team and played against many future major league players including Willie Mays. Walt got out of the service in 1953 and returned to Aiken to teach school.  He saw the need during that time for a place to buy sporting goods in Aiken. He decided to quit teaching and pursue his passion for sports by opening Aiken Sporting Goods in 1954. He owned and operated his store for 43 years until his retirement in 1997.  He sponsored numerous Little League teams during those years. Walt was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church of Aiken. He was a past member of Aiken Sertoma Club, Aiken Jaycees, American Legion, Houndslake Country Club, Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken Golf Club, and the Downtown Merchants Association for many years. He was also a member of the Thursday Night Supper Club at The Outing Club for over 40 years.  He was a long time member of the Cotillion Dance Club of Aiken, the Quadrille, and Les Amis Dance Club.  He is survived by a daughter, Julie (Jim) Cranford, Augusta, GA; one son, W. Marsh (Lisa) Burckhalter, Jr., Aiken, SC; grandchildren, Courtney Marsh Cranford, Meredith Helen Cranford, Lucille Lorick Burckhalter, Walter Marsh Burckhalter III; two sisters-in-law, LeClair Burckhalter, Aiken, Carolyn Pettigrew, Edgefield, SC and a brother-in-law, Ted Robertson, Denmark, SC. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Walt was preceded in death by his loving wife, Jewell Pettigrew Burckhalter, brother, Llewellyn Jarrett Burckhalter, sister-in-law, Margaret Robertson, and brother-in-law, John Wallace Pettigrew. Walt's family appreciates his excellent care and kindness throughout his illness from Dr. Gerald Gordon and the staff on the Dogwood Wing at Pepper Hill Rehab and Nursing Center in Aiken. In lieu of flowers memorials in Walt's memory may be sent to St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801 His online guestbook may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter Marsh Burckhalter, please visit our flower store.