Russell E. Burket, 85, Roaring Spring, died Sunday evening at his residence.
He was born in McKee, son of the late Ross A. Sr. and Myrtle Gertrude (Fagan) Burket. He married Elizabeth Albright on Dec. 18, 1999.
Surviving are his wife; five children: Gloria Oesterling, Bob Miller, Kay Shidler and husband, Jack, Ernie Miller and wife, Pam, and Joanna Ruegsegger and husband, Tim, all in Ohio; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mary Thompson and June Elliott; and a brother, Carl.
He was preceded in death by a son, Edward Andrew; three sisters: Elizabeth "Lizzy" Green, Cleo Johnson and Becky Bowers; and a brother, Ross Jr.
Russell was a graduate of Roaring Spring High School and a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He retired as a supervisor from Appleton Papers on April 1, 1990, after 42 years of service. He was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Roaring Spring, and also belonged to the Roaring Spring Lions Club, Murray-Appleman American Legion, Ray-Camp VFW and the Jaffa Shrine, where he was a volunteer driver, transporting children to Shriner's Hospital.
Russell enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and Civil War history.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Todd T. Thompson Funeral Home Inc., Roaring Spring, followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. by the Rev. Dottie L. Steele. Interment with military honors provided by the Blair County Veterans Honor Guard will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Martinsburg.
Contributions in Russell's memory may be given to the Murray-Appleman American Legion, Blair County Veterans Honor Guard or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
