Ronny William Burkhalter
Mead Cemetery
Bryan County Oklahoma

Ronny William Burkhalter passed from this life at his home on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the age of 62 years 7 months 9 days. He was born in Pecos, Texas on Wednesday, October 6, 1948 to Grady and Ruby (Blanscett) Burkhalter.

Ronny attended school in Durant for most of his life and graduated from Durant High School in 1967 and then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he served as a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and later in life he became an advisor to younger members of the organization.

Music was his first love; he was the first chair drummer of the State of Oklahoma his senior year and was the recipient of numerous medals.He loved to brag about living the rock star lifestyle as a High School student due to his success as a drummer at such a young age. He was always in pursuit of good music and played in several rock bands; notable bands and musicians he was proud to be involved with include: The Exiles, Point Blank, ZZ Top, The Five Americans, Shelly McBride, Bill Randolph, Sid Whatley, and many more too numerous to mention.

Ronny also worked on his father's roofing crew (Burkhalter Roofing), and later transitioned the business to Burkhalter Building Roofing & Aluminum as he found booming success locally for years to come. Ronny had extreme drive and ambition which lead to other successful local businesses such as Babos and The Rock of Texas. He was a proud member of the Durant Jaycees serving as President for many years. After an urge to spread his wings further, he moved to Dallas and worked at Ram Jack for several years and was coined Ronny Ram Jack due to the great success at his job. While in Dallas he attended the University of Texas at Arlington and earned certificates in soil mechanics, soil, foundation & drainage. At that time he was a member of the Texas Housing Association. Ronny moved back to Durant after spending several years in Dallas to be closer to family and start his own business which included Image Advertising as well as Structural Foundation Repair. In 2003, he got his Oklahoma home inspectors license and started Structural Home Inspections and Consulting and Structural Systems installing guttering and patio covers. He was the President of the Southeastern Oklahoma chapter of ORCIA (Oklahoma Residential and Commercial Inspectors Association). In 2004, he married Donna Rodgers at the First United Methodist Church where he was a beloved member. He was a special person with a great passion and respect for life. He was a huge animal lover, dogs especially and English Bull Dogs more specifically. He loved to make new friends and loved anyone that would talk as much as him. He was a witty, intelligent and extremely humorous man that loved to help anyone in need. His most treasured thing in life was the relationships with his friends and family. He was infamous for overly bragging about his kids, grandkids and wife. He was a local man who was extremely involved in the community. Ronny loved the lake, Harley Davidson motorcycles and a good steak. He will be remembered by his family as a charismatic man with a beautiful smile, big heart, and gentle soul. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Ruby Burkhalter and his brother, Roger Burkhalter.

He is survived by his wife of the home Donna Burkhalter, son Zane Burkhalter and his wife Susie of Pottsboro, daughter Mandy Trent and husband Ronnie of Durant, daughter Michale Gentry and husband Colin of Norman, step-son Joel Moore of Durant, brother Bruce Burkhalter and wife Anita of Springdale, Arkansas, mother-in-law Wilma Maple and sister-in-law Linda Maple of Durant, 4 grandchildren Nicole Trent and Brittany Trent of Durant and Dylan Gentry and Jossi Gentry of Norman. Family hour will be Wednesday evening between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home. The service will be held on Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Greg Tolle and Honorable Farrell Hatch officiating. Pallbearers will be Rick Roach, Dicky Kidd, Mike Parks, Billy Trent, Bobby Story and Dr. Jim Harmon. Honorary Pallbearers will be Zane Burkhalter, Kathy Whatley, Denver Blanscett, Prentice Blanscett, Patsy Blanscett Curry and Kenny Curry. Honorary Memorial Pallbearers will be Sid Whatley, Jerry Williams, Eddy Marshall, Bill Randolph, Mike Hamilton and Roger Burkhalter. Interment will be at Mead Cemetery following the service.

Family and friends may send online condolences & view tributes at www.coffeymurray.com.

Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, Durant, Oklahoma.