By JOE CRANKSHOW
TCPalm.com

Popular morning radio talk show host, Ed Burchfield, 67, died Wednesday, ending a three-year battle with cancer.

Known as “Mr. Ed,” Burchfield had been a staple on local radio since 1983, said Greg Wyatt, vice president and general manager for WPSL/WSTU/WJNX radio.

Burchfield first appeared on WIRA 1400 AM of Fort Pierce in 1983 with a morning show, “Breakfast with Burchfield.” He moved to WPSL 1590 to take over the morning show that had been started by Greg and Carol Wyatt in 1994.

Burchfield was paired with newsman Charlie Neeld for more than 12 years, making them the longest-running radio duo on the Treasure Coast.

Breakfast with Burchfield was known for taking the show on the road. Whether it was in downtown Stuart or downtown Fort Pierce, or at Port St. Lucie public works facilities, WPSL’s “Breakfast with Burchfield” had been there.

“Ed Burchfield was a true radio and TV veteran,” said Wyatt.

Burchfield was also the jovial weather person for WTVX-Channel 34 during the 1980s and early ‘90s.

“Ed’s shadow is huge, but if there is a blessing, it is that the cancer he’s been fighting for the past three years will not bother him again,’’ Wyatt said. “Charlie turned to me this morning and said this is the end of an era. Indeed that is true, but not before touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of listeners for 26 years.”

Burchfield was a board member of WPSL Christmas Kids, which he called his greatest accomplishment. WPSL 1590 “adopted” the Christmas Kids that raised money for needy children in November of 1994, then hired Mister Ed a few weeks after that.

Neeld, who remains on air at the station, recalled that he found it difficult to get up early in the mornings, but that Burchfield was so pleasant and easy to work with that he looked forward to the day’s session on air.

Born in Kingsport, Tenn,, Burchfield served in the Air Force for four years, and moved to Fort Pierce in 1983, coming from Aiken, S.C.

Survivors include his wife of seven years, Helen Burchfield; daughters, Paige Burchfield of Fort Pierce, and Mary Burchfield of Port St. Lucie; son, Ted Burchfield of Port St. Lucie; stepson, Mark Hendry of Canada; stepdaughter, Jamie Lawson of Canada; and two grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to WPSL Christmas Kids, 4100 Metzger Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34947.

Services: Visitation will be held on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Haisley Funeral Home. A service will be conducted on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service. A guest book may be signed at www.haisleyfuneralhome.com.

TCPalm.com

Tags: dies, funeral, radio, radio host, weatherman

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 11:24 am and is filed under Entertainment, Fort Pierce, Treasure Coast business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.