Arthur Vaughn Burkett Jr.

2024. Military Honors Services were held for Von and Gloria (his wife) at Bushnell National

Cemetery, Bushnell FL on December 20, 2024 to commemorate their 66th Wedding Anniversary.

Von was born in Monmouth Ill. April 2, 1937. He enlisted in the United States Army National

Guard in April 1954 until he joined the United States Air Force, January 1955, where he met and

married his wife Gloria Swirko Burkett. He retired as a Master Sergeant in August 1977. Von was

awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Upper Iowa

University and his Master’s Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

After retirement from the military Von worked at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. After 8 years

there, they moved to Orange Park where he worked at St. Vincent's Medical Center in

Jacksonville, FL. He retired in 1991 where he and Gloria lived out the rest of their life.

Von had many hobbies he enjoyed playing games, road trips, canoeing, camping, motorcycle

riding, a good beer, and he had a passion for guns. Purchasing kits and making several of his

own which included making his own bullets.

Von was preceded in death by his wife Gloria by only 9 days. He was also preceded in death by

his sister Mary Johnson. He is survived by his sister Lenna Platowski; daughter and son-in-law

Kori Burkett Rapier and Randall Rapier of Locust Grove Ga; daughter and son-in-law Kristyn

Burkett Minkoff and Ron Minkoff of Gainesville FL. He is also survived by 3 grandsons, one

granddaughter.