Burroughs, George Wissley

George Wissley Burroughs, age 88, of Blacksburg, Virginia, went to be with the Lord at his home, surrounded by the ones he loved on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. A son of upstate New York, George was born in Maryland, New York, on Aug. 17, 1937, to the late Gladys and George Leslie Burroughs, and was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick.

George will always be remembered for his love of family, mischievous sense of humor, and showman’s charisma. A natural host, he had a long and successful career working for the State of New York, football legend Johnny Unitas, and Virginia Tech, where he retired after decades of service. A devout Catholic, George was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, achieving the rank of Fourth Degree.

A lover of golf, swimming, trips to the beach with his six grandchildren, and seeing the world with his beloved wife of 63 years, Bernadette, George lived each of his 88 years filled with faith, wonder, and love.
George is survived by his wife, Bernadette; his children, Peter (Metta), Bob, Alene (Carl), and Tom (Carolyn); his grandchildren, Darren (Hannah), Michael (Sarah), Johnny (Sadie), Cherylanne, Leilani, and Joe; and great-grandchildren, Heleena, Juliana, Harper, and Kimber.

Funeral services for George will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Memorial Gardens in Blacksburg, with the Rev. John Asare officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.