Rev. Lawrence William Burcaw 76, of Salem, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 6:12 AM Sunday, November 5, 2017, from the Auburn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Damascus.

He was born on August 15, 1941 in Salem, the son of the late Earl and Dorothy (Gillette) Burcaw.

Mr. Burcaw attended Salem City Schools until the 11th grade and ran track and field. He graduated in 1960 from the Salem Bible Academy and 1966 from the Salem Bible College, where he studied both Greek and Hebrew languages.. He followed the Lord's calling and ministered at McDonald (PA) Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church, Blue Eye (PA) AWM Ch., Numine (PA) AWM Ch., Jamestown (PA) AWM Ch., Pinegrove (Arcadia, PA) AWM Ch., Middlefield (PA) AWM Ch., Sayre (PA) New York Pilgrim, and Faith Holiness (Franklin, PA). He had his credentials with New York Pilgrims. Besides being a minister, he served in many capacities. From 1990 to 1992, he served as a traveling evangelist and singer. He also served as a prison minister, taught school at Dixonville, PA , and taught music at New Bethlehem. When he lived in Blue Eye, PA , he was a school bus driver and sold life insurance for the Baltimore Life Company. He was a bus driver for the MR/DD in Jamestown, PA. While serving the Arcadia Church, he served as an EMT on the ambulance squad and drove a bus for the deaf. When he was in Middlefield, he served as an Amish taxi driver, a paramedic and an axillary Sheriff. He also undertook a complete remodel job of the Middlefield church.

Lawrence and his father operated the WB Bar Pony Ranch in Salem and showed horses.

He was also known for his sharp shooting ability at the Salem Hunting Club. He and his family took many camping, boating and canoe trips. He was an instructor of stop smoking classes in the area and is remembered for his graphic demonstrations. He enjoyed woodworking, leather working, and farm tractors. He was a member of the Rocky Grove Pilgrim Holiness Church but attended the Connecting Point Chapel in Beloit.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Jane Ellen McHugh, who he married on June 9, 1962, his children, Mark (Nancy) Burcaw of North Benton, John (Esther) Burcaw of Berlin Center, Timothy Burcaw of North Benton, and Rebecca (Jeff) Paulus of Spring Grove, Pa.; his grandchildren, Krista Burcaw, Kendrick Burcaw, Karalyn Burcaw, Kaylee Burcaw, Heather Burcaw, Heidi (Glenn) Keaton, Ashley (Ben) Boardman, Matthew Burcaw, Ryan Burcaw, Justin Burcaw, Christopher Burcaw, Tiffany Burcaw, Joshua Burcaw, Jeffrey (Emily) Paulus Jr., Anthony Paulus, Austin Paulus, Kaitlyn Paulus and one great-grandson Timothy Paulus.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Isabelle Ruth Burcaw and an adopted sister Rosemond Mattavi.