Danny Joe Burgin

Danny Joe Burgin (age 67) died peacefully at home on April 14, 2018 after an almost 4-year battle with brain cancer which he faithfully journaled on his CaringBridge website. A celebration of his life and faith will be held at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Rd., Flower Mound, TX on May 5, 2018 at 11 o’clock.

Danny loved his family and was especially proud of his 4 kids (2 by blood and 2 by loving marriage) and of course his grandkids. He will be greatly missed by the surviving family members: mother-Cliffie Jo (Puckett) Andres, wife of 39 years-Rebecca (Becca) Jones Burgin, daughter-Miranda (Mandi) Tompkins and husband John, son-Jacob (Jake) Burgin and wife Elizabeth (Liz) (Chapman), grandson-Jackson Tompkins, granddaughter-Audri Tompkins, along with other relatives (mostly cousins) and an extended family of special in-laws. Danny was preceded in death by his father-Joe Dan Burgin and niece-Christi Norton..

Danny was a proud native Texan born in Winnsboro on January 11, 1951 and raised there and in Mount Vernon. He was always pleased to mention that one of his first jobs was hauling hay. He was FFA International Land Judging Champion in 1969 and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in that same year. He later in life earned an A.A.S. Liberal Arts degree from Northlake College, Irving, TX. He drew number 12 in the military draft lottery and went to join in August 1971 but he was classified 4F based on medical information and a military physical (due to spina bifida). As a proud American, he often regretted not being able to serve his country in the military and found ways during his life to support the military and veterans and first responders. His path eventually led him to the airline industry working for Braniff Airlines in catering performance and then as an Aircraft Dispatcher. It was about this time that he met Rebecca Jones in Irving and they married on April 21, 1979. After leaving Braniff and attempting unhappily to work outside that industry for a couple of years, he was eagerly drawn back into it working for a start-up Fort Worth Airlines out of Meacham International Airport for 1 year. He then moved to American Airlines for a 27-year career in System Operations Control (the behind the scenes nerve center of its global network) beginning as a Dispatcher then a Sector Manager and eventually a Center Manager. He retired in 2012 and began working for CHC Helicopter Corporation as an Operations Manager in the Operations Control Center. He finally totally embraced retirement in 2013. In the summer of 2014 he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) grade 4 terminal brain cancer and underwent surgery at UTSW Medical Center. Six weeks of radiation and then a year of chemo treatments under the guidance of the UTSW oncologists allowed him to have 15 months in remission without treatments, but the cancer reorganized and began growing again in late 2016. After attempting other treatments while also undergoing rehab as an in-patient, an out-patient, and with home healthcare for a compound fracture in his left leg as well as effects on his left side due to the brain tumor, the cancer finally became too aggressive for continued treatments to be worthwhile and afford him any good quality of life in his earthly body. He is now healed, he is whole again, and with his friend Jesus.

Danny was an avid reader and researcher who analyzed everything and eagerly attempted do-it-yourself projects 99% of the time, most of which turned out okay. He will be remembered for many activities and contributions, including administrative and committee positions held at First United Methodist Church, Irving TX, Chairman and Director Crossroads Interfaith Housing Program, Irving TX, member of some Irving ISD committees, and on the board of Irving Boys Baseball Association. He was pleased to be honored with the Irving ISD Lively Elementary PTA Service Award, but he most cherished being “Coach” for many years to several young boys playing PONY baseball in Irving TX, especially his own son. During his years in Flower Mound TX, his activities and interests included the Flower Mound High School Band Booster Club, the board and committees of the Northshore HOA, the Bridlewood Golf Course PA’s, his men’s book club, and his golf buddies. He loved to be outside and often walked the neighborhoods after he retired, making new friends along the way. His most fervent prayer these last few years was for God to use his weaknesses to somehow bless others.

The family wishes to express great appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all the doctors and staff on Danny’s team at UTSW, the Berean Sunday School class members and church staff members at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, along with “new friends” and loving care givers at icare Rehabilitation Hospital, BrightStar Care in Flower Mound, Advanced Rehab Trust Home Health, and Kindred at Home Hospice, as well as many nurse and pharmacist friends and loving family, friends, and neighbors from all aspects of his life. We also very much appreciate the wonderful and caring service he received from Certa Medical Transport and the Argyle Fire District. We have been overwhelmed by the love, caring, compassion, and support of all these angels that God placed in his path at precisely the perfect time. He wanted to see people up until the very end, and the family appreciates all those who visited as well as all the cards, calls, texts, emails, posts, thoughts, concerns, food, flowers, plants, gifts/donations, and especially prayers. He felt and the family continues to feel truly blessed.

In lieu of flowers or plants, Danny requested that memorial contributions be made to UTSW in support of brain cancer research. Donations should note Danny’s appreciation to the UTSW doctors: Dr. Bruce Mickey, Dr. Edward Pan, and Dr. Lucien Nedzi, along with their staff.

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Contact Michele Meyers: 214-648-1669

Or mail to: PO Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888

Or gifts may be made online at https://engage.utsouthwestern.edu/donate-now

Remembrances may be sent to:

Becca Burgin

8908 Bluestem Dr.

Lantana, TX 76226