He was born July 24, 1921, in Soldier, Kentucky, a son of the late Emmett Arthur "Ott" Furnish and Berhilda Ethel Reeder Furnish.
Mr. Furnish had retired as a Professor at Southern State Community College and received the honorary title of Professor Emeritus. He had received his Bachelors of Science degree from Morehead State University and his Master Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Furnish taught high school at Marshall, Sinking Spring, and Greenfield. He was a member, former Deacon and Sunday School teacher of the Hillsboro First Baptist Church, a member of the Raymond R. Stout American Legion Post 129, had served as a Hillsboro City Councilman, was a past member of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees and was the Head of the Department of Business at Southern State Community College South Campus for several years. Mr. Furnish had served as an U.S. Army Medic in the 68th Medical Regiment in Europe where he was awarded five bronze stars during World War II.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Zelma Mae Thompson Furnish on August 23, 2012; four brothers, Buster Furnish, Raymond Furnish, Ormal Furnish, and James Furnish; and two sisters, Doris Barnett and Crystal Cundiff.
Mr. Furnish is survived by two sons, Gary (Bonnie) Furnish and Brent (Mary) Furnish of Hillsboro, Ohio; four grandchildren, Carrie (Grant) Hutchinson of Sandy Hook, Kentucky, Christopher (Jackie) Furnish of Goshen, Ohio, Brian (Carrie) Furnish of Liberty Township, Ohio, and Richard Furnish of Columbus, Ohio; four great grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jack and Mary Jo Thompson of Morehead, Kentucky, and Shirley Spencer and Ben Cothern of Shalimar, Florida.
Friends may visit on Friday, August 1, 2014, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2014, at the Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Ohio, with military honors by the Highland County Honor Guard. Dr. Gary Furnish will officiate.
Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2014, at the Bowen Chapel Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with full military honors by the Olive Hill American Legion Post No. 138.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Hope, 909 Kenton Station Drive, Suite B, Maysville, Kentucky 41056.
Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, is assisting with local arrangements for Mr. William Burke Furnish.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.turnerfuneralhomes.com.