James Elwood Burchfield Jr. passed away on April 30, 2021, at the age of 93. He lived a long life, filled with stories I’ll never get to hear firsthand, but it’s clear he made an impact on the world around him. He served in the Navy during World War II, retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, and was a proud Mason. Born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1927, he saw decades of history unfold, and I can only imagine the stories he carried with him.
I didn’t grow up knowing my grandfather—or really, any of his side of the family. My father wasn’t part of my life, and while my stepdad did his best to fill that role, there’s always been a piece of me wondering about the other side of my roots. Reading his obituary, I realized just how much I missed out on—not just with him, but with an entire branch of my family tree.
He was married three times, outliving his wives Shirley, Christina, and Zelda. He lost his siblings too—Mary Alice, Margaret, and William—but not before building a family legacy. He had three kids, Sharon, Pam, and James III, plus stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A huge family, all connected through him. And yet, I’ve never met a single one of them.
Still, learning about him feels like uncovering a hidden chapter of my story. He loved simple joys: golfing, bowling, dancing, and playing euchre. Family gatherings and vacations at Guilford Lake were some of his happiest moments. I’ve been picturing those scenes—his laugh, the clink of euchre cards on the table, the sun setting over the lake. Even though I wasn’t there, it’s comforting to imagine the kind of person he might’ve been.
Would I want to meet the family I’ve never known? I think so. There’s a lot of history there, connections waiting to be rediscovered. Maybe someday, I’ll get the chance. Until then, I just wanted to write this as a small way to honor the grandfather I never got to know but whose story is, in some way, part of my own.
Epic Alien Storytelling 
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