James Randall (Randy) Burks, 72, peacefully passed away at his home in Washington, Indiana with his family by his side on Sunday, February 10, 2019 after a 5 year battle with kidney cancer. He had been seriously ill for the past three weeks.
Randy was born to Delmar James and Jessie Burks on May 4, 1946 in Crane Village, Indiana. He married Jeannie Dickmann on June 6, 1968 at Beck Chapel in Bloomington, Indiana.
In 1964 Randy graduated as valedictorian at Eastern High School in Greene County. He attended Southeastern Christian College in Winchester, Kentucky on an academic scholarship. Upon graduating from Southeastern he completed his BS and MS degrees in secondary education from Indiana University.
After his graduation in 1969, he and Jeannie moved to Washington, Indiana where he accepted a social studies teaching position at Washington High School. He retired in 2012 after teaching driver’s education, government, economics, psychology and sociology for 43 years. He especially loved sharing his knowledge and passion of our governmental process and the economic system. Over the years, many past students have shown their appreciation to him for inspiring their interest in the subjects he taught.
Randy was a charter member of New Hope Christian Church where he served as church historian, deacon, and Sunday school teacher for many years. He enjoyed being a part of Journey to Bethlehem from the beginning in 1995 through this past Christmas.
His retirement years were spent working the election polls, volunteering at church, writing pen-pal letters to elementary students through R.S.V.P., working in his yard and helping with the remodeling of his home. He especially enjoyed spending time with his four grandchildren, sharing his stock tips and corny jokes and discussing politics and the stock market over coffee with his friends.
Randy is survived his wife, Jeannie, two daughters: Kelley Gray (Shawn) of Washington, Indiana and Kristine Booth (Brian) of Carmel, Indiana; his four grandchildren, Mitchell and Jenna Gray, Sam and Sydney Booth; his brother Garry Burks (Kathy) of Washington; his mother-in-law Ruth Dickmann of Washington; his two sisters-in-law Ann Dahm (Joe) of Port Townsend, Washington and Alice King (David) of Las Cruces, New Mexico and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Jessie Burks, and father-in-law, Gene Dickmann.
A Celebration of Life will be held at New Hope Christian Church on Saturday, February 16th with visitation from 10:00 to 1:00 and the service to follow at 1:00 o’clock.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Hope Christian Church for Journey to Bethlehem or Helping Hearts Hospice of Daviess Community Hospital. In memo please write “memory of Randy Burks”.
Arrangements are through Goodwin- Sievers Funeral Home.