Gerald Michael Burkhart

Major Gerald M. Burkhart and wife Mary Noreen O'Donnell Burkhart found their final resting place December 15, 2014. The couple were married just 3 months short of their 60th wedding anniversary at the time of his wife's death on October 9, 2007. He passed away June 23, 2014 at St. Paul's Catholic Hospital in Dallas, TX.

The couple were born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa and traveled the world together. Maj. Burkhart earned a Master's degree at The University of Pittsburgh after receiving his Bachelor's at Duquesne. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1940, retiring in the late 1960's during the height of The Vietnam War. He served overseas during WWII and active duty during The Korean Conflict. He was a member of the 91st Bomb Group and had many war stories to share with his children and grandsons.

After retirement and living in the northeast as well as overseas, the couple decided to settle in a small town in Texas where Maj. Burkhart became a top salesman for Gorham Silver Co. out of Dallas. Earning them many more trips together.

Mrs. Burkhart bought the couple's first Shetland Sheepdog in 1952 in England and continued to raise and show the breed as well as starting the couple's own dog food company after Maj. Burkhart's retirement from Gorham. She also enjoyed sharing her love of musicals and stories of traveling.

Survivor's include 4 children, Marilyn Harris (husband John Patterson), Michael Burkhart (wife Amy), Jerry Burkhart, and Maureen Bailey. Five grandchildren, Christopher Burkhart, Amanda, Cody (wife Christina), Cooper, and Mikki Bailey, and 4 great-grandchildren, Boston Patrick, Zane, Ashlyn, and Elizabeth Bailey. Brother's Edmund (Mick) Burkhart (wife Rose Marie), Patrick O'Donnell (wife Ellen), and sister's Rita O'Donnell Pinyot (husband Ernest), Marilyn O'Donnell Colosmo, and Lola Burkhart as well has many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brothers Bernard, Vincent, and Francis Burkhart, William Condie, Thomas Colosmo, and sisters Irene Burkhart Condie and Mary Catherine Burkhart.

The couple received a FULL HONORS ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery after a service at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington DC., held by Monsignor Criscuolo, accompanied by grandsons Cody, Cooper and Zane Bailey while great-nephew Jimmy Cunningham of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony played Maj. Burkhart's favorite hymns on the viola.

The couple were truly blessed with an honorable tribute as many family members and friends from Texas to The Northeast shared the beautiful ceremonies on a perfectly beautiful day.