Kenneth C Burke

Kenneth C. Burke was born on December 29, 1928 in Sipe Springs, Texas. He
grew up on a farm near Brownfield, Texas. Ken graduated from high school in Brownfield in 1947 and attended Texas Tech for a year before joining the United States Navy in 1948. He spent four years on a ship, supporting the Korean War effort. Ken returned to west Texas in 1953 and re-enrolled at Texas Tech and completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1956. Following his graduation, he started to work in the oil field for Kewanee Oil in Crane, Texas and then later in Ballinger, Texas. While working in Ballinger, he met and married Dorothy Thomas in 1957. He worked for Kewanee for 22 years with time in Pampa, Texas, Gillette, Wyoming, Casper, Wyoming back to Pampa in 1971, then to Lafayette, Louisiana where he was later employed by Gold King Oil until 1987. In 1987, he and Dorothy launched a cinnamon roll business in Shreveport, Louisiana and Tyler, Texas. They operated that business until 1990. In 1991, he re-entered the oil business, working as a consultant until 1999 when Ken and Dorothy moved to Allen, Texas. Ken enjoyed bowling, home projects (at which he was really good) building grandfather clocks and building a Mercedes Touring kit car (wow, what a car!!!). Ken was called to his Heavenly home in the early morning hours of May 14, 2014.He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Dorothy Burke, sisters Shirley Wagood and her husband William, Patty Stewart and her husband McConnel, nieces Gloria Curtis, Valerie Opry, nephews and honorary pallbearers Rick Wagood, Shawn Wagood, Mark Stewart, Jeff Stewart, Jay Stewart, Rod Shiller and Tom Curtis. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at The First United Methodist Church of Allen, 601 S. Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas 75002. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 noon also at the church with an interment to follow at 2:15 p.m. at Dallas/Ft.Worth National Cemetery. Reverend June Franck will officiate. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, online at : www.cancer.org/donate/donate-american-cancer-society, or by phone at (800)227-2345 or by mail to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718.