Frank Leslie Burk

Born in and Hagerstown, Indiana in 1942, the son of Albert and Nannie (née Lamb) Burk. He was one of 8 children when they moved to Marion, where he grew up. He always offered us positive advice “your never going to do anything I haven’t already tried or know so one who did” (his words) otherwise mischievous. A graduate of Marion High School. He went on to earn a PhD in World Travel courtesy of the United States Military. He joined the Army after high school where he spent 4 years and was stationed at Fort Hamilton, New York. In 1962 after an honorable discharge from the Army, he worked in the trades for a few years until he joined the United States Navy Seabee’s in 1969 as a builder classification.

Throughout his 24 years of service he was stationed in Misawa, Japan, Keflavik, Iceland, McMardo Station in Antarctica, Diego Garcia, and NAS Willow Grove.

January 1, 1976 he married Jody (née Malott) and had a daughter that September. They remained married until her passing in May of 2005.

During his time in the Seabees he attain the rank of Chief (BUC). In his naval career he received a Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Antarctica Service Medal with bronze clasp, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, several letters of commendation along with multiple Good Conduct Awards (if you can believe that).

After retiring from the Navy, his good friend Captain Shultz, who had been the CO at “Grove”, retired and took the position up the street as President of Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The Skipper offered our dad a job as Facilities Director for the college where he remained until 1998. With the education, training and experience from the Seabee’s, it was an easy transformation into the civilian world where he engaged in critical infrastructure upgrades and other capital improvements. In 1998 our parents moved back to Marion and re-opened Malone‘s Irish Pub. For several years together they had a very successful business, with a very sizable and loyal customer base. After our mother was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently died in 2005, we think his spirit was broken. A few years later, with declining health, he moved back to Pennsylvania and lived with Leslie, her husband Steve and grandchildren until his death.

Admired by the men and women under his command, he was known as a hands-on leader with the Seabee’s motto “Can Do”, he was the first to get dirty and never asked a man to do a job that he didn’t do himself. And the works not done until it’s done. As a master builder he mentored countless new “bee’s” in their trades. Dad was also known as a master ball buster, storyteller, often not plausible but entertaining. Always one to offer a colorful metaphor or one liner.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and his beloved grandchildren; he enjoyed antagonizing all of us. He was a life member of the VFW post 6493 in Warminster, PA and a member of the VFW in Fairmount, Indiana. When able, he enjoyed golf, spending time in Ocean City Maryland, drinking Bud Light and BS’ing with most anyone.

Now the circle of life is complete; our parents are back together. We have little doubt she was waiting at Heaven’s Gate on him, and started tuning him up with her own metaphors.

He is preceded in death by our mother Jo Lynn “Jody” Burk, his brothers Jack, Bobby and Ronald and his sisters Billie and Rose. He is survived by his daughter Leslie (née Burk) Rychalsky and son-in-law Steve Rychalsky. He was PopPop to Hudson and Dalton Rychalsky of Bucks County, PA, his son Allen Burk, daughter in-law Sandra Burk, grandpa to Kaitlynn and Zachary Burk, of Delaware County, Pa, sisters, Ann (née Burk) Phillips, Florida, Sue (née Burk) of Proctor, Indiana, and nieces and nephew.

Dad is being Cremated and his service will be a private internment in Marion later this summer. We plan to have a memorial service in Pennsylvania at a later date.

The military is very dear to our hearts. We are very proud of the service and sacrifice our father provided to our country.

We ask you support your local VFW, Purple Heart, or veteran affair near you. There are a lot of veterans struggling that need help.