Obituary of F. Burke Barlow

Burke passed away Monday, February 28, 2011 after a long struggle with congestive heart disease. Born to Lou Verna and Fred Barlow on May 2, 1930 in Spokane, Wa. He lived most of his young life in Spokane and graduated from Rogers High School in 1948. Burke spent 4 yrs in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He married the love of his life, Sally Berthelson March 30, 1951 in Spokane. After he came home from the Navy he followed in the footsteps of his father and started work at the Spokesman Review\Chronicle in classified retail and was manager of feature advertising. After spending 10 years at the Spokesman Review he started a new career as a Manufactures Representative with P&G Associates. P&G took him from Spokane to the Portland area where he and Sally raised their two kids. Burke loved his golf and was a member of Willamette Country Club in Canby, Oregon. He was President of the Junior Senior Golf Association of Oregon and won many tournaments throughout the northwest and in Arizona. Burke got the boating bug and spent many years with family and friends on their boat exploring Puget Sound and the waters of northwestern Canada. The ultimate host, he afforded those that went with him a lifetime of memories. The love for his Lord and his family was unmistakable. Burke’s primary driving force was Jesus Christ. He loved his faith community and served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Burke was always a loving, compassionate husband, father, grandfather as well as a role model for Christ’s work. Burke took great delight in his family. He loved supporting and encouraging his children and grandchildren in any activity they were involved with. He took great pride in being their biggest fan. He was always there to provide inspiration and guidance. After 13 years in Arizona, they sold their home in Sun Lakes and joined a service organization called SOWER’s (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready). They crisscrossed the United States in their motor home doing volunteer work in churches, camps, and homeless shelters providing services from administration work and painting to running the local saw mill. This was a highlight in his life. Burke is preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Clark Barlow and sister Jerry Lou Rolfe. Burke is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sally, two children; Jim (Joan, La Conner, WA ) and Bonney Atwood (Joe, Puyallup, WA), four grandchildren; Adam (Christy, Portland, OR), Chris Atwood (Jenn, Wheaton, IL), Erin Barlow (Portland, OR), and Matthew Atwood (Tacoma, WA) and several nieces and nephews. Burke’s family is most appreciative of the MultiCare Hospice team that provided such outstanding care and loving attention during this illness. **Remembrances can be made to MultiCare Good Samaritan - Home Health and Hospice, PO Box 5299, Tacoma, WA 98415-0299 or Warm Beach Christian Camp, 20800 Marine Dr, Stanwood, WA 98292 or a charity of your choice. Services will be held Saturday, 3/5/2011 at 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup, 412 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA.