CECIL BURKE JR.
Mar. 12, 1924 - Nov. 15, 2010
LaGRANGE -- Cecil Raymond Burke Jr., 86, of LaGrange, entered into the glory of Heaven on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010. Cecil was born March 12, 1924 in LaGrange to the late Cecil Raymond Burke Sr. and Selma Rouse Burke.
Cecil served with the United States Navy during World War II. He proudly served on the battleship U.S.S. Alabama, where he manned a twenty-millimeter gun and fired on the first enemy aircraft that attacked the Alabama. Cecil was a longtime member and former deacon of LaGrange First Missionary Baptist Church where his love and willingness to share Jesus was an inspiration to many.
Cecil was the owner/operator of Burke's Advertising and served 29 years with the LaGrange Volunteer Fire Department. Cecil had a great love of fishing.
A service to celebrate Cecil's life will be held tonight at 7 p.m. from Rouse Funeral Home with the Rev. Brad Mitchell officiating. Interment with military honors will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery.
Cecil is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Grace Sugg Burke; two sons, Ray Burke and wife, Amy of LaGrange, Mike Burke and wife, Cindy of Kinston; seven grandchildren, Tony Castro, Steven Warren, Ashleigh Burke, Anna Blake Burke, Mikal Burke, Matthew Warren and Drew Burke; two sisters, Frances B. Sutton of LaGrange and Hazel B. Adams of Goldsboro; brother, Alston Burke of Hampstead; special family friends, Sue Burke and Ken Jones; along with a number of special nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Wednesday following the service and at other times they will be at the home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Memorials may be made to First Missionary Baptist Church, 201 N. Caswell St., LaGrange, NC 28551 or Cecil Burke Bible Club, c/o North Topsail Shores Baptist Church, 808 Old Folkstone Road, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460.
Arrangements are with Rouse Funeral Home, LaGrange.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 17, 2010 1:47 PM