Charles Burke

Charles L. Burke was born January 10, 1942 , in Unadilla, Georgia. His parents were Eunice and Alvin Burke. He lived in several places during his childhood years including Georgia and Michigan before settling in Dallas, Texas. On Christmas Eve morning 2025 at the age of 83 he went home to celebrate his first and best Christmas with our Lord and Savior and his beloved Diana.

Charles had many names he was known by: Charlie, Kao, Dad, Papa, Pop, Pops, Chief, Grand Papa and Great Papa. He would however say the two most important to be known by were Father and Husband. He was a traditional man in every sense as he took care of the family and provided all that was needed.

Charles attended North Dallas High School where he would meet his eternal "sweetie" at the age of 16 years old. Her name was Diana Parker and she lived two doors down on Ashby Street. They got married when they were 19 years old.

Upon completing high school, he briefly worked at Dallas Power and Light Company before he eventually enlisted in The United States Air Force. His career took him and the family on many adventures from coast to coast and as far north as Alaska. He had duty stations at Edwards AFB, California, Viet Nam, Minot AFB, North Dakota, Eielson AFB, Alaska, Travis AFB, California, Thailand, and finally ended his career at McGuire AFB, NJ.

Charles served in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1990. He achieved the highly selective rank of Chief Master Sergeant. Charles served as both an Instructor and Examiner Flight Engineer in the 30th Military Airlift Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base. Ultimately, he was promoted to head Flight Engineer Standardization at Headquarters, 21st Air Force. He retired as a very accomplished airman after thirty years of service to his country.  Upon  his retirement Charles went on to a second career working for the United States Postal Service.

In retirement Charles grew fond of feeding and watching birds at his residence. He also enjoyed being on his boat and fishing, and really loved fishing with his grandchildren. 

Charles was a "do it yourselfer" long before DIY became the source of many internet videos. He spent countless hours fixing just about anything, all of the family's vehicles, including those of his children.

His DIY nature, compassion for others and understanding of how young Air Force families struggle to make ends meet motivated him to provide items for some of these families. As a hobby he would ride around base and pluck items that other families were discarding, refurbish them and give them away to families that otherwise would not be able to afford these things. While his children were somewhat horrified at their father grabbing other people's trash, as adults we realize that this hobby merely demonstrated his big and kind heart.

Charles Burke is survived by his children: Michael Keith Burke (63) and his wife Julia Susan Burke (64), Tracy Leigh Reed (62) and her husband Mark Reed (65), and Robert Madison Burke (56); his grandchildren: Chelsea Paige Logue (36) and her husband Brian Thomas Logue (35), Steven Craig Reed (34) and his wife Valerie Lorrin Reed (34), Alyssa Katelyn Zamora (32) and her husband Austin Lawrence Zamora (40), Sabrena Dominique Fary (32), Jordan Charles Reed (28), and Madison Ashley Proulx (24) and her husband Clay Proulx (27); and his great-grandchildren: Emery Ryan Logue (7), Kylie Anne Reed (6), Axel Keith Zamora (4), Arya Leeann Zamora (2), Harper Lynnleigh Reed (2), and Lainey James Logue (1).
In heaven he joins his beloved sweetie Diana, his parents Alvin and Eunice Burke and his brothers William and Alvin Jr.