Randy Burks 1946-2019
James Randall "Randy" Burks, 72, peacefully passed away at his 
home in Washington, Indiana, with his family by his side on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, after a five-year battle with kidney cancer. He had been seriously ill for the past three weeks.
home in Washington, Indiana, with his family by his side on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, after a five-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 bachelor's and master's 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, Feb. 16, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the service to follow at 1 p.m.
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.
Published on February 11, 2019
____________________
From the WHS 1970 & 1971 Yearbooks: Randy Burks; Sociology, Psychology, History, Government.
Indiana University B.S. & M.S.
