Wallace "Wally" Decker Burke

Portland- Wallace Decker Burke, of Cape Elizabeth, died peacefully, Sunday, January 25, 2015, at Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. Wally was born in New York on August 3, 1931 to Victor and Frances Decker Burke. At the age of 2, his father was tranferred to Portland, Maine, where Wally was raised on Summit Street. In his junior year at Deering High School, he tranferred to Culver Military Academy in Indiana. After graduating in 1949, he joined the Navy and served as a submarine engineman during the Korean War.

Wally had a life long love of motorcycles. He owned a 1954 pan-head Harley with a side car. A picture of him and his wife, Anne, in this motorcycle is now on the wall at Big Moose Harley-Davidson on Riverside Street in Portland. His second passion was playing the banjo. Just a month before his passing, he sent his favorite banjo to his nephew, Dana Richards, in Colorado, so his love for this banjo will go on for years within the family.

His wife, Anne, who died in 2013, was the post mistress at Cape Elizabeth Post Office on Shore Road. After retiring as an accountant, Wally assisted her in the post office.

He resided at The Woods at Canco for the past 15 months, where he made many new friends. He especially enjoyed their cribbage and Bingo activities.

Wally is survived by his children, Carol Ann Brown of South Portland and Philip E. Burke of Cape Elizabeth; his sisters, Audrey Burke Reynolds and Lorraine Burke Richards of Portland; grandaughters Carey Brown Gafur and husband Mark of Norfolk, Massachusetts; Jody Brown Ethell and husband John of Camarillo, California; and five great grandchildren, Spenser, Quinn, and Greyson Gafur and Hayden and Jackson Ethell. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and their families.We will so miss his devilish grin, quick wit, and the sparkle in his blue eyes.

An intimate memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland. Interment will be private in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.