Charles Bacon Buhrman

Charles Bacon Buhrman was born in Bradenton, Florida, on September 21, 1935, to Asbury Ronk and Doris Johnson Buhrman. His father was a Methodist minister, and Church appointments took the family to a succession of Florida cities, including Gainesville, Havana, Arcadia, St. Augustine, and DeLand. Mr. Buhrman began high school in St. Augustine, and subsequently graduated from DeLand High School.

Following high school graduation, Mr. Buhrman enlisted in the US Army as a bandsman. His postings included the 243rd Army Band of Camp Pickett, Virginia, the 2nd Army Band of Ft. Meade, Maryland, and the post band at Fort Gulick, Canal Zone.

Upon release from the Army, Mr. Buhrman enrolled in Florida State University School of Music. Subsequently, he changed his major to History and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in that subject. While in the School of Music, he met Neva Christine Bryan, and they were married in 1958. After a year in Denver, Colorado, working as musicians, the couple returned to Florida, and, re-enrolling in Florida State University, continued their studies in Graduate School.

In 1963, Mr. Buhrman received his Master’s Degree in Library Science. He was hired by the Library of St. Petersburg Junior College (now St. Petersburg College) as a reference and periodicals librarian. In the latter capacity he was instrumental in adopting small computers to the management of library holdings. In 1994, he retired with the rank of Associate Professor.

Mr. Buhrman was gifted with many talents. He was deeply knowledgeable and of acute judgement in music, poetry, and fine literature, and an expert photographer with an especially fine eye for natural subjects. Among his photography subjects were birds of Florida and also Central and South America, to which he made numerous birding trips. He was very active in the Florida Ornithological Society.

Mr. Buhrman is survived by a brother, Arthur P. Buhrman, of Pinellas Park; a sister, Margaret Lynn Collingwood, of Louisville, Kentucky; two sons, Parker Bryan Buhrman, of Madison, AL, and Ansel Ronk Buhrman, of Babson Park; two grandchildren, Emily Nicole Mason and Matthew Alan Anderson and 1 great granddaughter.

Mr. Buhrman will be interred in the family plot in the Oakdale Cemetery of DeLand, Florida. Those wishing to pay respects to Mr. Buhrman are invited to make donations to Cornerstone Hospice. Arrangements by Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.