James Howard Burke Jr.

Visitation was held Monday, February 26, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Funeral Service took place at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home with Burial at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Howard served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955 and often told stories of his tour on the ships. He met and married Eloise Chandler I n 1956 and they had three children. They celebrated their 50th anniversary before Eloise’s passing in 2007.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Howard Burke, Sr. and Anna Lloyd Harris Burke and his son, Bill Burke.

He is survived by his daughter, Jana Burke and son, John Burke of Corpus Christi, TX, his grandchildren, Kyle and Jamie Burke of Northport, AL and his sister, Mary Williams of Chicago, IL.

Howard’s passion was building successful restaurants. He opened several A & W’s in 1972, first one in Chicago and then moving to Florida. In 1985 he and his family moved to Tuscaloosa, AL where he owned 10 Sonic Drive In’s before retiring. Retirement didn’t suit him as he always needed to be busy so he started again in 2005 by opening 4 Zaxby’s restaurants in the Tuscaloosa, Northport and Selma areas. He again retired in 2009 and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas to be close to his family. His employees will always remember how he was always there for them and treated them like family.

Pallbearers will be the Veteran Patriot Guards.

Condolences may be offered at www.memorygardensfuneralhome.com.