Rhinehart W. Burke

Rhinehart W. Burke, 89, of Noblesville, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 17, 2014. He passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 2, 1924 in Alma, Michigan, a son of the late Rudolph and Teacel O. (Bragg) Burke. Rhinehart graduated as the Valedictorian of the Alma High School Class of 1942 and in March, 1943 was drafted into the U.S. Army where served during WWII. In 1951 he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English, cum laude, with minors in Art, Spanish, Education and General Science from Alma College in Alma, MI. He was a talented artist and started at age 16 by painting a mural in his home church which led to murals in banks, department stores and many private homes. His love of art continued throughout life. He also wrote beautiful poetry and prose and enjoyed playing the French horn, piano and violin. He taught for nearly 20 years, mostly junior high and high school in Michigan and California and college in Oklahoma. He married the love of his life, Rebecca A. Newby, on January 6, 1967. He did free lance artwork from 1967 – 1970 for the Pilgrim Holiness Church Advocate and for many private clients including the Tee Pee Restaurants in Indianapolis. In 1970, he joined Best Lock Corporation in Indianapolis as a draftsman and greatly enjoyed his career there retiring in 1995. He was a member of the Alma Pilgrim Holiness Church in Alma, Michigan and in recent years attended Hinkle Creek Friends Church in Noblesville. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rebecca A. Burke; three sons, Rhinehart W. Burke II and Rudolph R. Burke both of Noblesville and Raphael J. (wife: Belinda) Burke of Carmel; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Noah Burke; three sisters, Josephine Miller of Chambersburg, PA, Bonnie (husband: Ward) Sipes of Spring Arbor, MI and Sharon (husband: Loren) Beck of Ithaca, MI; a sister-in-law, Barbara Burke of Brady, NE and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Benjamin R. Burke, in 1970; his twin sister, Julia Swett and his brother, Ted Burke. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Hinkle Creek Friends Church, 21617 Hinkle Road, Noblesville, with Pastor Robert Stubbs and Rev. Ward Sipes officiating. Burial will follow in Summit Lawn Cemetery in Westfield with Military Honors provided by contingents from the U.S. Army, American Legion and V.F.W. Friends may call from 4 – 8 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2014 at the church. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Sproles Family Funeral Home in New Castle. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. Sproles Family Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Rhinehart W. Burke.

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Rhinehart W. Burke

July 2, 1924 - January 17, 2014