Chattanooga attorney Richard W. Buhrman, 80, passed away on Aug. 9 after a brief illness.
Mr. Buhrman was born in Chattanooga, where he attended public schools and the University of Chattanooga, graduating in 1963 with an honors degree in English and a second major in mathematics. As a battalion commander in Army ROTC and a distinguished military graduate, he received a regular Army commission upon graduation from college.
His active duty was deferred while he attended Duke Law School on a scholarship, and then served three years active duty as a captain during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Buhrman was actively practicing law at the Buhrman Law Firm in Chattanooga, the firm he founded in 1974, with his son, John, until his death.
He was a member of St. Jude Church, where he served as chairman of the parish council and was a lector and eucharistic minister. He also was Scoutmaster of Troop 172, BSA, sponsored by St. Jude Church. He received several Scouting awards, including the Silver Beaver, the St. George Religious Award, and the Vigil Order of the Arrow.
He was a past president of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, a member and past president of the Serra Club of Chattanooga, and Knights of Columbus Council 8576 and Assembly 1084. He served on the board of directors of the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation of East Tennessee and Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.
Mr. Buhrman received the Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award from the Chattanooga Bar Association in 2010 and also received the 2020 Outstanding Service Award for exemplary service to the community of Chattanooga from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ward and Margaret Buhrman, and his brother Lawrence. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judith A. Buhrman; and three children, Tom (Vivian) Buhrman of Durham, N.C., Audrey (Craig) Davis of Hillsborough, N.C., and John (Julie) Buhrman of Chattanooga; and five grandchildren, Graham Buhrman, Rosemary Buhrman, Cameron Buhrman, Sadie Buhrman, and Ryan Davis.
The family was holding a private funeral service due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Memorial donations can be made to the Margaret Whiteside Buhrman Scholarship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
