Wayne Birch

Wayne Lawrence Birch Sr., 74, of Summerville, PA, formerly of Gilpin Township, passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at Penn Highlands Brookville Hospital.  Born September 23, 1946 at the family home in Brookville, PA, he was the son the late Richard H. Birch and Martha L. (Vallimont) Birch.   He was the second oldest of 17 children.  

When he was eleven, Wayne worked as a farmhand for Remo Franceschi and continued until he graduated from Brookville Area High School in 1965.  In 1965 he attended trade school in New Castle to become a machinist.  Mr. Birch enlisted into the Marines in 1965 where he would complete combat training in Wilmington, TN for Aircraft/Jet Engine Repair (Jet School) as he served 13 months deployed in Viet Nam.  After Wayne was honorably discharged from the Marines, he worked as a machinist until 1974.  He then attended Truck driving school and he worked for Bremann’s Trucking in Leechburg for the next 10 years.  He later joined Super Valu as a truck driver out of New Stanton and he worked there until he retired in 2004.  

Mr. Birch loved his family as a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was always quick to help out.  He taught his sons to hunt, fix cars, and take care of your family above all things.  He was quite the story teller and always had special voices for all the characters which makes sense since he enjoyed watching wrestling and old western movies.  He loved to collect cars, hats, and guns.    

Mr. Birch is survived by three sons: Wayne L. Birch Jr. (Natasha) of Apollo, PA; Richard M. Birch of Summerville, PA; Russell A. Birch (Megan) of Ford City, PA.  Eight grandchildren:  Amanda Barnett (Shawn); Jackie Sells (Jimmy); Austin, Matthew, Laney, Lacey, Laura and Carrie Birch.  Two Great Grandchildren: Branson and Beau Birch.

Also Mr. Birch is survived by five brothers; William Birch (Barby) of Frederick, MD; Fred Birch (Dee) of Reynoldsville, PA; Robert Birch of Summerville, PA; John Birch of Brookville, PA; Randon Birch (Leslie) of Brookville, PA; seven sisters: Martha Lou Bash (David) of Leechburg, PA; Carrie Birch of Hawley, PA; Christine Snyder(Thomas) of Summerville, PA; Betty Steel (Richard) of Knox Dale, PA; Maxine Walter (Ronald) of Brookville,PA; Sherry Piovesan (George) of Brookville, PA; and Lisa Smith of Summerville, PA.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Birch is pre-deceased by two brothers: Albert and Dennis Birch; two sisters Virginia Carter, and Sally Reekie.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, August 14, 2021, from 11am to 2pm at the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Summerville, PA. A funeral service will take place immediately following the viewing, beginning at 2pm and officiated by Pastor Randy Hall. Interment will take place at St. John’s (Windy Hill) Cemetery, Rose Twp., Jefferson Co., PA. Online condolences and other information may be found by visiting www.mckinneydargy.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wayne Birch, please visit our floral store.