Bill Burkhart

Funeral services for B. H. "Bill" Burkhart, 90, of Gainesville, are set for 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home with Dr. Jeff Langley officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

Bill was born on January 9, 1929 in Gainesville to Howard Burkhart and Ruth (Porter) Burkhart. He passed away on February 3, 2019 in Gainesville surrounded by his family.

Bill grew up and attended school in Thackerville, OK. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII, serving mostly in Germany where he had fond memories of chauffeuring General Carl Spaatz around. He was discharged in 1947. He married Darleen Long in Gainesville, where they raised their four sons, Mike, Steve, Jeff, and Greg. He retired from the Sante Fe Railway as a conductor in 1991 after 43 years of service, and was a member and secretary of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gainesville, and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels, feeding his Martins, fishing, gardening, and working crossword puzzles.

Bill is survived by his wife Darleen Long Burkhart; son Mike Burkhart and his wife Daloris; son Steve Burkhart and his wife Vickie; son Jeff Burkhart and his wife Kandy; son Greg Burkhart and his wife Lisa; grandchildren Crystal Salisbury and husband James, Ryan Burkhart, Josh Burkhart, Jake Burkhart and wife Casey, and Blake Burkhart; great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Burkhart, and Austin Burkhart; numerous step-grandchildren; and special caregivers Melissa Hammer and Aubrey Hammer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Brandon Scott Burkhart; brother Afton Burkhart; brother Sam Burkhart; and sister Patricia Burkhart.