Donald Wallace Burks

Manito—Donald Wallace Burks, 72, of Locust Grove, Virginia and formerly of Manito went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 24, 2015. Don was born on September 4, 1943 in Pekin to Marion Wallace and Ruth Lillian Adams Burks. Surviving are his wife Ninfa, brothers Dale (Della) Burks, Daryl (Theresa) Burks of Phoenix, Arizona and one sister Marilyn (Leonard) Wheat of Manito. He grew up on a farm in rural Spring Lake near Manito and graduated from Forman High School in 1961. He had an ear for music and enjoyed playing the accordion and guitar. Don was an athlete who comped in baseball, basketball, and track. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served our country four years after completing boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, then going to Biloxi, Mississippi and on to tours of duty in Japan and Pakistan. Don loved to travel. While in his 20’s he got his private pilot’s license and bought a small plane which he kept at Waddell Airport just down the road from where he grew up. He spent most of his adult life as a Special Communications Officer for the Federal Government, working in American Embassies in Uganda, Senegal, Republic of Congo, Germany, Morocco, Guam, Philippines, Croatia, Thailand, and finishing his career in Iraq. When he was in the Congo, he met Ninfa Gonzaga who was serving as the Treasurer of a mission there, and they were married in her hometown in the Philippines on July 2, 2001. Since retiring in 2007, they have lived in Lake of the Woods, Virginia, and have enjoyed fishing, boating, sports on tv and attending church activities. Don was an active member of the Faith Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he met Hazel and Christine Douglas who became his faithful friends and chauffeurs during these past few years of battling cancer and other severe health problems. In spite of his trials and tribulations, Don continued to memorize Scripture and encouraged and prayed for others. His calmness, perseverance and strong faith in God through years of suffering are to be admired. A celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Spring Lake Missionary Church, 6779 Townline Road, Manito. Rev. Daryl Burks will officiate. Internment will be in Spring Lake Garden Cemetery behind the church. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the missions fund of Springlake Missionary Church. Maas-Hurley Funeral Home in Manito is in charge of arrangements. To post an online condolence go to www.hurleyfh.com.

Donald Wallace Burks

September 4, 1943 - December 24, 2015

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