Howard Milton Burdick, Jr.

EPITAPH FOR HOWARD M. BURDICK, JR.

Howard Milton Burdick, Jr. was born in his grandmother’s Farmhouse near Oologah, Oklahoma on November 11, 1934 to Howard M. Burdick, Sr. and Etta Mae (Thomason) Burdick. He passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023

Visitation will be Noon to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 am, Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the Cornerstone Church with Rev. Helmer Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at the Wann Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations maybe made to: Heifer International.

The family moved to Tulsa when he was six, and he later graduated from Tulsa Central High School.  At age 19 he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard as an Airman.  He attained the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and then attended the Academy of Military Science where he was commissioned as a Captain in 1973. In 1991 he was promoted to Colonel and retired in 1995 as Deputy Commander, Resources for the 138th TAC fighter Group.

In 1961 he married Dena Current. Because Howard always had a love for his grandparents farm, they purchased the 80 acres from them, complete with cows, and this became their second job on evenings and week-ends. Many lively stories can be told about the shared tasks of hay hauling, feeding cows in all weather, gardening, fence building, etc.  He knew how he wanted things done, and insisted on any helpers doing it his (correct) way.  Among one of his greatest personal achievements was the building of a large barn, mainly without any help.  It is a testament to his skills, determination, and work ethic, and has stood the test of time and even a tornado.

Along the way he became a loving father to five children, all of which survive him:  Mark Burdick; Brenda Burdick Behnken; Bryan Burdick; Teresa Burdick; and Rachelle Lindsey. There are also nine grand-children and ten great-grand-children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother James Burdick

It can be said that Howard Burdick was an honest, hard-working man of integrity and it has been said: truly one of a kind.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.