The Burke Family
By Linda Cunningham Fluharty
On May 3, 1932, in Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia, Edward Burke, 21, born in Benwood, residing in McMechen, married Mildred McNabb, 21, born in Echo Point, Ohio County, W. Va., residing at Boggs Run.
Mildred McNabb was the daughter of Louise "Lou" Yaeger, and William McNabb, Jr., who married April 19, 1911 at Wheeling, W. Va. In addition to Mildred, their children were Delores, Kenneth and Ray.
Mildred's father, William McNabb, age 35, a resident of 149 National Road, Fulton, Ohio County, W. Va., died June 22, 1926 of "Infected teeth & tonsils - mitral insufficiency."
After the death of her husband, Mildred's mother, "Lulu," age 38, married widower, Elmer Cunningham, 39, on March 13, 1929. He was previously married to Temple "Tempe" Seigh who died in 1922. Elmer and Lou [PHOTO] lived on Boggs Run with her McNabb children and his children, Mildred, Florence and Elwood Cunningham. Together, they had two more children, Jean and Nelson "Buck" Cunningham.
Just three years after Elmer and Lou were married, Mildred McNabb married Edward Burke. They made their home on Logan Street in McMechen and it was there that their first son, Edward Lee Burke, died September 27, 1933 at the age of 10 months.
The other two children of Edward and Mildred Burke were Harry Eugene "Skippy," and Mary Kathryn "Mary Kay."
Ed and Mildred Burke moved to Boggs Run and they eventually lived in this house, which they rented for many years and then bought in 1966 from Guy M. and Elizabeth Marple. Prior to the Marples, the house was owned by Fred Keltz, whose family once owned large tracts of land on Boggs Run.
The former Burke & Bell Homes are gone.
Mildred (McNabb) & Edward Burke
Photos provided by Skip Burke.
On October 16, 1953, Harry "Skippy" Burke, born in McMechen, residing at Box 317 RD#2 Wheeling (Boggs Run), married Joanna Eileen Edgell, born in Valley Grove, residing on Wood Street, South Wheeling.
Skip went into the United States Air Force on March 22, 1954, and made the Air Force his career. For thirty years, he traveled and lived all over the world, served in the Vietnam War, and finally retired April 1, 1984.
Skip Burke served his country for thirty years.
Skip and Joanna bought their first home in D'Iberville, Mississippi in May 1983. During Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, they lost their home, their belongings, and two cars. They relocated to Warner Robins, Georgia on September 3, 2005, and moved into a new home on March 28, 2006.
The children of Skip and Joanna are Lynn Marie, Cathy Louise, Kelly Ann, and Thomas Patrick.
Nelson "Buck" Cunningham & Skip Burke, 1999
Skip Burke and his mother's young half-brother, Nelson "Buck" Cunningham, were close in age, as well as lifelong close friends. Buck, born December 12, 1931, died in South Carolina on September 13, 2003. He served four years in the United States Air Force.
Edward Burke, born June 30, 1912, died in July 1986. His wife, Mildred L., born November 30, 1912, died August 1, 1997.
Skip Burke & sister, Mary Kay.
Photo provided by Skip Burke.
Mary Kay Burke, the only daughter of Edward and Mildred (McNabb) Burke, died in Ohio on August 2010. Her obituary provides a comprehensive biography.
LOWRY, Mary Kathryn, 67, left us behind after her three year battle with Leukemia on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Her final days were spent surrounded by her loving family and friends.
Mary Kay was born on Thanksgiving, November 26, 1942 in Wheeling, W.Va. to Edward and Mildred Burke. She was a 1960 graduate of Union High School.
She spent her life serving others. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, sister and aunt. Her greatest pleasures came from being with loved ones, simply attending her grand- children's games or singing events brought joy to her life.
She was a collector of memories. Her final years were the happiest of her life because she had met her true love, Don.
Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Eddie Lee.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Donald Lowry. Don was sent to her four short years ago, but served her as only an angel from God can.
She is also survived by her son, Christopher Sabo (and wife Jennifer); grandchildren, Alisha and Nicholas Sabo; a brother: Harry Burke, (and wife Joanna); and nieces and nephews, Lynn Moore, Kelly, Cathy and Thomas Burke.
Viewing will be held at Rodman Neeper Funeral Home in Delaware, Ohio from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17. Services will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Delaware at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 18, followed by burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Society, Relay for Life, or Grace United Methodist Church. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
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