Arthur Louis Burke

Arthur Louis Burke, Sr, Captain, USAR-TC, Retired CPA, Rotarian, World Traveler, Kentucky Colonel, Mason and Shriner, passed away peacefully at Cornerstone Hospice House in Tavares Florida, on May 23rd, 2019. Art was born in Fountain, Florida on August 28, 1918, in a railroad boxcar where his parents worked at a Pole Camp. His wife of 49 years, Suzanne Unkle Burke, and his daughter Annette Mindek preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Betts of Sanford, FL, son Arthur L Burke, Jr. (Marsha) of Leesburg, FL, daughter Shirley Burke White (Butch), of Lady Lake, FL, daughter Barbara Marlin (George) of Richmond, TX, and son Bill Burke (Mary) of Suwanee, GA, fourteen Grandchildren and a multitude of Great and Great-Great Grandchildren. Arthur was proud to be a third generation Floridian. At the age of 23 he was drafted by the US ARMY and served stateside during World War II, and later in Korea. He enjoyed his 12 years of military service achieving the rank of Captain. With his wife, Suzie's encouragement, Arthur left the military and enrolled at the University of Florida in 1954, where he obtained his Bachelors' Degree with a double major in Industrial Management and Accounting in 1958. He was a proud Florida Gator and faithfully wore his class ring. Following graduation from college, he began his accounting career, eventually starting his own business. It was a lead role in a Melon Patch play, Blythe Spirit, in 1971, that gave him the confidence to prepare for the Certified Public Accountant designation, which he earned on his birthday in 1972, at the age of 54. Arthur served clients well into his 90s. It kept him sharp and occupied after he lost his wife Suzanne in 2001. He had many friends and said that the hardest part of growing old was losing them. He loved the attention that came with being a centenarian. Arthur was generous to his family and was known for welcoming any relative into his circle. The family is grateful to the caregivers at Vista Lake Assisted Living Facility where he resided for the past 22 months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cornerstone Hospice (cshospice.org), Wreaths Across America (wreathsacrossamerica.org), or the charity of your choice. A Military and Masonic service will be held on June 24th at 10:00 at the Veteran's Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida with a reception to follow at Morrison United Methodist Church, in Leesburg, at noon.

Arthur Louis Burke

August 28, 1918 - May 23, 2019