Wanda Lois Burcham

Wanda Lois Burcham, age 94, passed away on June 19, 2021, in her home at Hagen Care Center an assisted living facility at Penney Retirement Community, surrounded by her devoted caregivers of four years.

A graduate of Bryan College in Dayton, TN, she continued her education by attending the historic Kentucky Baptist School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. In 1952, she traveled on the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth to England and then on the M.V. Caledonia to Mumbai, India as a nurse with Christar, previously known as International Ministries (IMI). After reaching South India, she settled down in Bhongir and studied Telegu the local language for two more years while working at a small clinic. After those years she traveled thirty miles to Hyderabad to the Bethesda Leprosy clinics treating over 10,000 suffering from Hansen’s Disease. Amidst the 3 facilities she was the only nurse with a daily head count of over 900. In her spare time, she taught Science at a local middle school in Telegu. To escape the oppressive heat, she would travel to the Nilgiri Hills, Kodiakanal, and the Taj Mahal with her dear friends Virginia Flue and Margaret Vigeland. She loved her work overseas and thanked the Lord for those “fruitful and fulfilling years of ministry.” After 40 years in India, she made the trip back to the U.S. to facilitate the new appointees in getting out an into the field. In 1992 she finally retired to St. Petersburg, FL, where she wrote for Missionary Publications and in December of 1999, Wanda moved to Penney Retirement Community. She stayed active by volunteering, singing in the Women’s chorus, traveling, and driving those needing transportation.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents Adolphus and Ruby Burcham, her brother Paul, her nephew Gerold, and her Cousin Allison. She is survived by her nephew David Burcham of Erie, PA, and her two cousins John Franklin of Orlando, FL and Jennie Barber of Dickinson, TX.

“Praise our God who is still reaching to the highways and byways and using us in His work.”

-Wanda L. Burcham