Obituary of Kenneth Wade Burke

On August 2, 2018, surrounded by his loving family, Kenneth Wade Burke, age 78, went home to be with his Lord. He was born in 1940 to his parents, James Kenneth and Hazel Burke in Stamps, AR. He then moved to Magnolia AR where he met Linda and five years later they married. They were married for a total of fifty-seven wonderful years.

As a young boy Kenneth was obsessed with anything with wheels. He had his own bicycle repair shop at the age of thirteen. With the money he earned working on bikes and working at the local movie theater, he bought his first car at age 14. Since he was not old enough to drive yet, he spent his days disassembling and reassembling his car. This experience led to his lifetime occupation of being a "parts man". He went to work for Crow-Burlingame at the age of 18 while continuing his education at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR. He later became co-owner of Bastrop Motor Supply and Mer Rouge Motor Supply.He spent several years managing a parts supply warehouse in Monroe, LA. He finally finished his career when he retired from the company he started with at the age of 18.

Kenneth was a Gideon, youth leader, CASA volunteer, spent thirteen years as an auxiliary deputy with the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office, Sunday School teacher and a deacon at Oak Hill Baptist Church. He was a faithful servant of his Lord, a devoted husband, a great daddy and a super Pap-paw. He left a wonderful legacy for his family to follow.

Funeral services for Mr. Kenneth Wade Burke are scheduled for 11 AM Monday, August 6, 2018 at Golden Funeral Home with Bro. Roger Johnson and Bro. Andy Myrick officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 PM until 8 PM Sunday, August 5 at Goldens.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Franks Burke; daughters, Kesa Jambois and husband Donald, Buffi Watkins and husband Jimmy; son, James Kevin Burke and wife Cindy; sister, Jean Burke Seale; brother-in-law, Floyd Dobbs; grandchildren, Ethan Burke and wife Victoria, Logan Burke, Mary Ashton Burke, Matthew Jambois, Melinda Jambois, Sunnie Jambois, Sophie Jambois, Benjamin Brister, Reagan Watkins and Riley Watkins; step grandchildren, Jessica Matthews and Amanda Walton; great grandchildren, Tatum, Natalie and Gabriel Burke; step great grandchildren, Kylee Matthews, Carter Matthews, Brilynn Giddens and Briella Giddens.

Mr. Burke is preceded in death by his parents, J.K. and Hazel Burke of Magnolia; sister, Kittie Dobbs; grandsons, Nathan Parker Burke and great grandson Nathan James Burke.

Serving as pallbearers will be his three grandsons, Logan Burke, Matthew Jambois and Ben Brister, also, Lee Norsworthy, Kenneth Reynolds and Bill Price. Honorary pallbearers will be fellow Gideons of the Bastrop Camp.

The family asks that memorials be made to The Gideons, Oak Hill Baptist Church or charity of the donors choice.