Larry Dale Burkhalter

Larry Burkhalter

Larry Dale Burkhalter, 75, passed away peacefully at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, WA on April 22, 2022. He was born on September 12, 1946, in Modesto, CA, the son of Daniel Dale Burkhalter and Doris Lucille (Eller) Burkhalter.

Larry graduated from Rossville High School, class of 1965. He entered the U.S. Air Force serving as a communications specialist for four years, as well as, playing football for the Air Force. He enjoyed being stationed in Thailand, and, especially Spain, gaining lifelong friendships while enlisted.

A fiercely independent, proud man who valued his privacy, eventually moving to Seattle, away from Arizona where he’d built a successful professional life as a specialist in concrete form-building. He helped build skyscrapers, sidewalks, the Deck Park Tunnel in Phoenix’s portion of Interstate 10, the US-60 final connection phase outside Apache Junction, AZ, and the Seattle Seahawks stadium. He was a charter Seahawks season ticket holder with a placard on his two ticketed seats dedicated to the memory of his nephew, Ryan Burkhalter.  He retired from the carpenter’s union while also serving as union steward at one point. He fell in love with the state of Washington where he would live out the rest of his life, working to stay connected to his extended family, both near and far.

To his family’s joy, he entered a relationship with God in his last years through the loving care of good friend, Jim Rowland, at Calvary Chapel South in Kent under Pastor Kevin Day’s direction.  Although Larry’s time at Goshen Gardens Adult Family Home was short, his friends and caregivers there quickly considered him a part of the family.

In addition to his parents, he’s predeceased by his brother, Randy, and his nephew, Ryan Burkhalter.  He is survived by his sister, Jill (Burkhalter) Payne, loving in-laws, nieces, a nephew, and a host of long-time friends.

A memorial service will be held after the Burkhalter Family Reunion (starts at noon) Saturday, July 23, at the Buck Creek Community Center, 5402 N 750 E, Buck Creek, IN 47905. Interment will occur on his 76^th birthday, at 9am on September 12 at Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana (AVMC-M), 15950 N. Luckett Rd, Marana, AZ 85653, with light refreshments to be served immediately following at location to be announced.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

1102 Quince St. SE
P.O. Box 41155
Olympia WA 98504-1155
360-725-2200 or 1-800-562-2308
Fax: 360-725-2212

With Veterans Homeless Reintegration Project noted in the check memo field.