JOE BURKE

1933 - 2020

Joe Fred Burke, Sr.
April 3, 1933 - July 11, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY
Joe Fred Burke, Sr., 87, a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, on July 11, 2020.
Born in Nickelsville, VA, the only child of Earl Huston Burke and Lola Belle (Addington) Burke. The family moved to Kingsport, TN when he was 3 years of age. Joe talked about his Addington family gathering every Sunday for church at the Addington Frame Baptist Church and on to his grandparents' home for Sunday dinner. In high school, his friends wanted to go to the farm in Virginia to help with the tobacco harvest; of course, a big breakfast and a little pay were a welcomed reward. Joe was active in sports, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball at Dobyns Bennett High School. The basketball team won the Tennessee State Basketball Championship in 1951. Joe went to David Lipscomb College in Nashville, having received a basketball scholarship. Joe later graduated from East Tennessee State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business. He was in ROTC and inducted into The National Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade.
While awaiting active duty, Joe met his wife to be, Jean Cullop, during a Christmas break in Kingsport. Jean returned to nursing school in Knoxville, and Joe often found his way to Knoxville. Joe entered the Army at Fort Sill, OK as a second lieutenant, later transferring to Fort Campbell, KY as a battalion motor officer attached to the 101st Airborne Division. Joe and Jean married on June 22, 1956, making their first home at Fort Campbell, KY.
Joe and Jean, with baby daughter, Jennifer Elaine, moved to Nashville, TN after Joe received an honorable discharge in 1958, and continued serving in the Army Reserve. Joe went to work for Mutual of New York Life Insurance Company, finding his passion, studying and working with young families to plan their financial security. He loved everything about his new career.
The Burke family grew, adding Joe Fred Burke, Jr., and then Jeffrey Bryan Burke. Joe became more involved with Business Insurance Education, Jaycees, St. Andrew Methodist Church, and fun tennis on Saturday mornings. Mutual of New York asked Joe to enter their Managerial Training Program in New York City.
The Burke family moved to Oklahoma City in 1964, Joe as Agency Manager. Joe finished his Chartered Life Underwriter Designation Executive Development Courses at the Wharton School of Business. Joe served as Agency Manager for 20 years, hiring and training new agents, always excited to see young men and women grow into successful careers. Joe was active in the General Agents and Managers Association, Chartered Life Underwriters Association, the Executive Association of Oklahoma City, Life Underwriters Association, Estate Planning Council, serving these organizations through the chairs and becoming president. Joe received many awards for his dedication and service to the industry by Mutual of New York and Oklahoma Insurance Associations. He was an active member of Church of the Servant, serving as Lay Leader, then continuing to serve on the various committees on the Official Board, and he and Jean are longtime members of the Classics Class. He coached the church's boys' basketball team and was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and West Rotary Club, becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. Joe enjoyed playing golf at The Greens, Tuesday night Poker Club, Oklahoma City Town Hall and Men's Dinner Club.
The Burke family loved to water ski and cook out at Tenkiller, Eufaula, and Lake Murray, always staying in cabins as the ladies in the family required running water. He enjoyed many visits to relatives and friends in Tennessee. Joe and Jean loved to travel through the years. They visited many Eastern and Western European cities, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel, later concentrating travels in the United States, New York City being a favorite. Joe was an avid reader of American history, war stories, or anything Ambrose, Mitchener, McCullough or global intrigue.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lola Belle Burke. Surviving Joe are his wife, Jean; his three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild: Jennifer Elaine (Burke) Boughan & Baxter Boughan (grandchildren, Luke Michael & Emily Grace); Joe Fred Burke Jr. and dear friend, Teresa (Young) Burke (Joe Fred Burke Ill, and Roger Hunter); and Jeffrey Bryan Burke & Sherri (Byford) Burke, (Kristi Nicole Burke, and great-grandchild, Brenden Jacob Burke).
The Burke family would like to thank Dr. Johnathon Valuck, Oklahoma Heart Hospital Nurses, C.A.E. Caregiver Services, Integrity Senior Care and Centennial Hospice for their kind, compassionate care.
If you would like to honor Joe with a donation, he admires the work of Infant Crisis Services and the Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care Inc., 1501 NW 24th, OKC, OK 73106-3635.
A Memorial Service will be Friday, Aug. 14 at Church of the Servant at 1 p.m.; social distance seating and masks are required. Livestreaming will be available through the church's website https://www.servantokc.org/watch