Orville Jan “Bo” Burwell passed away on December 2, 2025, in Statesville, N.C., with his wife by his side. He was born on February 14, 1943, to the late Orville Ray Burwell and Pansy Rae (Bowling) Burwell in Chapmanville, W.Va.
He grew up on the family farm in Lincoln County, W.Va., with sisters Clara “Lou” (Burwell) Thompson and Delores “Snook” (Burwell) Martin. Bo met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” Lugo Burwell at North Miami High School in Miami, Fla. After graduating, Bo volunteered for the U.S. Army. Following completion of Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, they were married on October 21, 1962, at Fort Benning, Ga. They had their first child, Debra Ann (Burwell) Hager at Fort Riley, Kan., before he was deployed to Vietnam as part of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Ranger Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was a Sergeant, a combat platoon leader, and a tunnel rat during his service in Vietnam. As a member of 2nd Rangers, he participated in many combat operations to include Operation Abilene in the spring of 1966, considered by historians to be one of the toughest campaigns in the Vietnam War.
Bo came home to the turmoil of Vietnam-era America and made a life in Miami, Fla., with Betty and Debbie, working first as a carpenter and then as a truck driver. While in Miami, two more additions were added to the family, daughter, the late Lisa Rae (Burwell) Aldrich and son, Bill Ray Burwell. After a move to Cincinnati, Ohio, his youngest son, Scott Allen Burwell, was born, before their relocation to Statesville, N.C. In Statesville, Bo worked as a Teamster for Yellow Freight out of Charlotte. He finished his career with Yellow Freight in Virginia. After decades of relocations, long hours, multi-day freight runs and sleepless nights, he retired with Betty to a quiet, private piece of land out in the country in North Iredell in 2003. It was exactly what they worked for their entire lives. There he improved and maintained the land, enjoyed time with his children and grandchildren, walked Laurel Creek with his cherished loyal dogs, and spoke quietly with the Lord amongst the sounds of gently swaying trees and birdsongs. He continued serving his fellow veterans through American Legion Post 113 in Harmony and became an active member of Rocky Hill Baptist Church in North Iredell.
In addition to his wife, children and siblings, Bo is survived by six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many dear friends and family. He was a hard-working, loving, kind and wise man who kept candy in his pocket to give to the children at church, while ever alert to protect those he loved. He overcame the kind of adversity that only a tiny percentage of people will ever understand and emerged on the other side not angry or bitter, but with his heart full of the love and the light of God. Awaiting him in Heaven with open arms are his mother, his beloved daughter Lisa, and his fallen brothers from his service in Vietnam.
Services will be held at Rocky Hill Baptist Church at 825 Mountain View Road, Statesville, NC 28625, on Saturday, December 6. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. and the memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Flowers may be sent to Nicholson Funeral Home, 135 East Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
Donations may be made in Bo’s honor to Rocky Hill Baptist Church.
Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.