[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING EDITH BURCH FOR BEING NAMED CALIFORNIA'S 2003 OUTSTANDING 
                              OLDER WORKER

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
California's 2003 Outstanding Older Worker, Edith Burch. A youthful and 
vigorous 81, Ms. Burch is the owner and operator of Capital Business 
Services in the City of Napa and often works well in excess of 60 hours 
a week.
  Ms. Burch learned her work habits early. She grew up on a farm in 
Pendleton, IN, and her first job, at age 6, was to pull a wagon of 
water to the workers in the field.
  When her family moved into town when she was 18, she found a job at 
the local bank. She worked at the bank until she married her husband, 
George, a World War II veteran of the South Pacific campaigns.
  Together they purchased a jewelry store, which they ran successfully 
until family tragedy forced them to sell the business and move in with 
her husband's parents in Napa. Her father-in-law taught Ms. Burch and 
her husband accounting and they opened Capital Business Services in 
1957 in her in-law's spare bedroom. Ms. Burch has managed the business 
continuously since then.
  Ms. Burch and her husband had to adapt to the rapid advances in the 
accounting field with the advent of personal computers. Since many 
small businesses began using personal computers to do their own 
bookkeeping, Ms. Burch moved her company into tax preparation, and 
estate, nonprofit and corporate returns and IRS audits.
  She passed the Enrolled Agent Exam at age 57, which allowed her to 
practice before the IRS. To keep her license current, she has to have 
80 hours of continuing education every 3 years, but to stay current 
with the changing tax laws, she earns many more continuing education 
credits than the minimum requirement.
  In addition to her long hours of work, Ms. Burch also finds time to 
volunteer with her church and its preschool, Soroptomist International, 
Meals on Wheels, battered women's programs, special needs scholarships 
and single moms. She and her husband, who passed away 5 years ago, 
helped start the first Boys and Girls Club in Napa.
  Mr. Speaker, Edith Burch is a woman of exceptional talent, energy and 
dedication to our community. It is therefore appropriate for us to 
honor her today as California's Outstanding Older Worker.




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