Fred T Burkey

Frederick T. Burkey, Ph.D. age 84, died January 17, 2025. He was born on the family farm near LaGrange, IN September 29, 1940, the first child of Lendel E. and Nila I. (Ringler) Burkey. His early education was in a three room school that lacked plumbing and running water but whose teachers instilled in him a love of learning.

Later, the family worshipped weekly at Brighton (IN) Chapel Brethren Church where he, his parents, brother and two sisters accepted Christ as Savior and were baptized.

In addition to routine farm work, in his early years, he worked in a meat market, clerked at a crossroads General Store, and as a truck driver for a gas pipeline construction crew.

Sensing a call to Christian service, he enrolled at Ashland College, Ashland, OH, which was affiliated with the Brethren denomination. There, he met Marilyn Jean Thomas, of Akron OH. The two were married August 24, 1963. Marylin died September 2, 2015, after 52 years of marriage. Surviving are a daughter, Lynne (Brady) Reynolds, Columbus, OH; son, Brian Burkey, Westerville, OH; grandchildren, Abigail Burkey and Jacob Reynolds; sister, Mary Lee Aschenbrenner, South Bend, IN; brother, Lendel Burkey Jr., Muncie IN.

After graduating from Ashland College, Fred earned graduate degrees at Ashland Theological Seminary, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, and The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

During his career, he served as Pastor of a rural Ohio church; Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries (Brethren Church National office); College chaplain; Adjunct Professor of History, Education and Religion; Chief Advancement Officer for three institutions of higher learning; Fundraising consultant for several not-for-profit organizations; and Adult Bible Study Leader.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 23rd from 10 am to 12 pm at Moreland Funeral Home where a service will follow at 12 pm. Pastor James Fields officiating. Interment Northlawn Memory Gardens.