Ralph Dolph Burbey, 83, died as a result of Parkinson’s Disease on September 9, 2014. Ralph was born on May 21, 1931 in Rib Lake, WI to Pearl Valerie Trepanier and Dolphus Ralph Burbey, the second child of 6 and the first son. Both the Burbey (Berube) and Trepanier families settled in Quebec in the 1600’s relocating to Wisconsin in the 19th century. His greatest memories were of growing up on a dairy farm. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Ann Morrow Burbey and his children:
Son John Dolph, his wife Kim Susan, their daughter Alexandra Lee and husband Jason Koenig.
Daughter Elizabeth (Beth) Anne
Daughter Maureen Ellen Beam, husband Edward Anthony, and their children Erin Renee, Jennifer Marie, Rachel Anne, and Joseph Edward
Son Michael Gerard, wife Mary Christine, their children Melissa Bennett, Griffin Michael, and Melanie Cathleen
Daughter Diane Morrow Dersham, husband Paul Jeremy, her children Carl Michael Harvey and Scott Robert Harvey
Son Timothy Morrow, wife Carrie Ruth and their son Max Durante
Ralph is also survived by his brothers, Brian Daniel Burbey of Baja, CA and Gene Patrick Burbey of Dayton, OH, and his sister, Roberta Clare Fecteau of Ladysmith, WI and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Mary Loris and brother James Dudley.
Ralph joined Air Force ROTC while attending Wisconsin State at Superior. After graduating with a BS/Math, he reported to preflight at Lackland AFB, TX in June 1955. He had boarded the train in Chicago and thought he was almost there when he hit St. Louis. When he did get off the air conditioned train in San Antonio, he always said that the heat nearly killed him! He reported to Spence Air Base, GA for preflight (T-28) and then to Enid AFB, OK (B-25). Afterwards, he was stationed at Ardmore AFB, OK where he flew the C-123 dropping the 82nd and 101st Airborne at Ft. Campbell, KY and Ft. Bragg NC. After Sputnik, he was offered a regular commission in the USAF which he accepted. He had two tours tracking satellites, one at NORAD, Colorado Springs, and one with USAF Weather Satellites at Offutt AFB, NE. Also, he earned a EE degree from Colorado State University and a MS in business from University of Nebraska during his AF years. During these nonflying assignments he flew that old workhorse, the C-47. His last plane was the KC-135 (tanker, refueling the fighters and bombers) during the Vietnam War. He did like this plane!
After retiring from the Air Force, he was an independent insurance agent for 36 years, the last 18 years working out of the Alex Schell Agency in Plano.
Always active in the Catholic Church, Ralph joined the Knights of Columbus in 1989 after his children had left home and he didn’t have any more games or activities of theirs to attend. He was Grand Knight of Santa Maria Council 6065 at St. Marks Catholic Community in Plano, TX and a charter member of Lumen Christi Council 13520 at All Saints Catholic Church where he served as one of its first trustees. He participated in the Color Corps of both Abram J. Ryan and Christopher Columbus Assemblies.
The funeral Mass will be at All Saints Catholic Church of Dallas at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 25, 2014 with Rev. Tom Cloherty celebrant. The burial with military honors will be at the DFW National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinson’s Voice Project at 646 N Coit Rd #2250, Richardson, TX 75080 (www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org) or the Parish Renovation Projects at All Saints Catholic Church, 5231 Meadowcreek Dr., Dallas, TX 75248.
Arrangements are under the direction of
ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home
19310 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75252
214-306-6700
