Charles William Burkett, Ed.D, passed at the age of 84 with the comfort of his Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 14, 2016, at his winter home in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Charles resided in Hiltons, Va., for the last 24 years with his wife Linda. He was born on July 22, 1931, at home in Naomi, Ky., to parents John Wiley Burkett and Evay Scrimmager Burkett. Predeceased family also include four brothers, Dewey, Amos (died as infant), Leonard, Dean; one beloved sister, Sophia Burkett Flynn; and nephew, Jeffery Burkett. Charles is survived by his wife, Linda Howard Burkett; son, Mel Charles (and Connie); and granddaughter Meredith Burkett (and Jonathan) Harvey; three great-grandsons, William Warren, Andrew Dorman, and Benjamin Rhymes, all of Lexington County, S.C.; two step-children, John Charles Kilgore and Kelsey Kilgore (and Steven) Taylor and Heather Stanley; grandchildren by love, not blood, Ella Grace Kilgore, Jackson Noah Kilgore and Maxton Stone Taylor, all from Scott County, Va.; one surviving brother, Garvis (and Myrtle) Burkett; sister- in-law Alene Burkett of Somerset, Ky.; special nephews Wayneth and Steve Flynn, Gordon, Darry, Brad and Kevin Burkett; and niece, Janice Burkett Palmer. Charles was reared on a farm during the great depression and has written about life and people in the community of Naomi, Ky., during that period. He did not want that time to be lost and prepared this for his children and grandchildren. His early education was in a one room school, Naomi Elementary and he graduated from Nancy High School in 1949. Charles enlisted and spent four years in the US Navy during the time of the Korean Crisis. Afterward, he attended Eastern Kentucky University on the GI bill where he received a Bachelors of Science (1958) and Masters of Arts (1961). He was proud of the fact that he taught at every level of education: all elementary grades, high school and undergraduate through the doctorate university level. He was a high school business teacher in Tipp City, Ohio, and served as principal at two elementary schools in central Kentucky. Charles received his Doctorate in Education from the University of Kentucky in 1967. Charles was a professor at East Tennessee State University in the College of Education. Throughout his 27-year tenure at ETSU, among his accomplishments were the development of the Masters of Arts in Teaching program and being instrumental in the establishment of the Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. He served as Chairman of the Department of Education for several years prior to his retirement in 1994. He was honored with the distinction of Professor Emeritus. His research and writings were published in several national journals and he co-authored a textbook while at ETSU. Charles enjoyed the "gatherings" and celebrations with family and friends at their home on the Holston River in Hiltons, Va. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved his country and his fellow man. He was a quietly generous man and had compassion for those troubled or in need. He remained true to his state of birth and was given the highest honor bestowed by the State, the title of Kentucky Colonel. He was a passionate fan of Kentucky Basketball and was known to enjoy a sip of Kentucky Bourbon. Family and friends are invited to share in the celebration of his life at a memorial service to be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church Naomi, Ky., on February 27, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary. Charles will be interred in the National Cemetery on the campus of Mountain Home Veterans Facility in Johnson City, Tenn.

Published on February 25, 2016 - Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Kentucky.