John Fanning Burgwyn, age 66, of Virginia Beach, VA, left us on Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, for his next adventure. The youngest son of Nathaniel T. R. Burgwyn and Margot C. Yaw Burgwyn, he was Richmond born and raised, and had many wonderful memories growing up there.

John graduated with a degree in History from Virginia Tech, and belonged to the fraternity of Phi Delta Theta where he met some of his closest friends. He served as chapter president from 1980 to 1981.

He did many things in life, including working as a branch manager with United Virginia Bank, as a partner in Earworks, a sound studio, and managing an Orvis store, until he retired to write stories full time.

John was a big-picture thinker and a thoughtful storyteller; he especially loved American history and published a novel, Kinchen, based on one of his family’s compelling true stories. He was a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan (when they were good and when they were bad, which was most of the time) as well as a diehard Hokie, something his Wahoo wife had to put up with their entire marriage. He was a fly fisherman, and it was a beautiful sight to see when he cast into the water. He danced the robot at the spur of the moment. He would belt out Old Man River. Loudly. He loved dark chocolate. He loved cats, especially Henry Dune, Uncle Mae Mae, Larry, Bellianna, Jamie and Fiona. He loved David Lean movies, and anything with Julie Christie in it.

He was a true-blue friend, extremely loyal, and we will continue to honor his legacy. He leaves behind his wife Ellen McBride, his mother Margot, his brother George Burgwyn (Eileen), his sisters Molly Shaver (Chuck), and Emily Burgwyn (Carla), his brother-in-law Sean McBride, his sister-in law Patty McDonald (Sam), his nephews Thomas Taylor, Nat Burgwyn (Courtney), Drew Burgwyn (Lauren), and Gage McBride (Zoie), his niece Meghan McBride, grandnieces Adelyn, Ada, Samantha, and Leia, grandnephew Bennett, and many, many other dear family members and wonderful friends.

Many thanks to those who helped us during John’s illness, especially Patty and Sam McDonald, Sean McBride, Danny Ray, Bob Smith, Bert King, James Strickland, Yetta Roy with Amedisys, and Martha Braunstein and Likita Green with Wings Over Virginia Hospice.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 7 at the Church of the Saviour in Jackson, NC, with lunch at the parish hall at noon and the service at 2pm. A celebration gathering will also be held in Virginia Beach on Friday, September 6, at Citrus (2265 W Great Neck Rd) from 2pm to 4pm. Please bring your “John” stories.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting a local non-profit such as the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, or a special cat rescue organization.