Obituary of W. William Burk

W. William Burk, 76, of Lakewood, passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2016 in his home. He was born May 12, 1940 in Jamestown the son of the late Westley T. and Florence Falldine Burk. Bill was a 1958 graduate of Jamestown High School. Prior to retirement, he was employed for many years as a Pattern Maker/Mold Maker at Carborundum Monofrax Co. Bill was an avid athlete, participating in baseball and basketball in high school (he was proudly nicknamed Leaping Lena by his varsity basketball coach, and a gifted shortstop on the baseball team). He played minor league baseball in the County Grape Belt League. When it came time to hang up the spikes and for his children to play, he became a youth baseball coach, volunteering on the Southwestern Youth Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball boards. He never missed an event or game of his children and grandchildren. He was a handy man, a husband, a father, a reluctant Buffalo Bills fan, a mentor. He was comfortable with an 80 hour work-week, a hammer and saw, a barstool, and a lawn mower; the voice of reason, an occasional vehicle for irrationality. He was, like many of his generation, the salt of this earth. Every game, every play. Every class, every grade. Every cold, every bruise. Every age, all the news. Every house, every home. Every ball, every phone. All the fun, all the shame. The win, the loss, the rides, the pain. A frown, a laugh, a silent tear. Metal forged year on year. A pile of days without end. A hero, a tyrant, the bank, a friend. Everything the mirror sees. Who you are, who you'll be. Surviving are a daughter, Felicia A. Giambruno of Jamestown; two sons: William T. Burk of Ashville and Richard E. (Caryn) Burk of Long Island; six grandchildren: Sarah M. Giambruno, Benjamin J. Burk, Sydney G. Burk, Jordan N. Burk, Adam M. Burk and Samantha B. Burk; a brother, George R. Burk of Naples, FL; and a sister, Sandra S. Sanders of Oklahoma. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Barbara A. Bogard Burk who died August 24, 2016. The family will receive friends in memory of Bill and Barbara, from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday November 26, 2016 at a location to be announced at a later date. As Bill was a consummate Baseball Man, memorials may be made to Village of Lakewood Non-Endowed Baseball Diamond Fund c/o Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (http://crcfonline.org/product/village-of-lakewood-non-endowed-baseball-diamond-fund/) , 418 Spring Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave a condolence for the family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.