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“Where are their wings?” “What?” “They’re angels, aren’t they?” This is what Howard thought of those at St. Mary’s and Greenbrier who cared for him in his last month.
He was born east of Hennessey to Vernon and Beulah (Lamb) Burdg, June 29, 1931, the older brother of Jim, Jack, Judy and Roger. True to the times, his family moved a lot and his public education ended in his junior year at Enid High.
He loved fast cars, cigarettes, drinking and fighting, until he met Glenda Boyle (who he loved more) while both were working at the bus station on West Maple in Enid. After he asked her out many, many times, she agreed to a date and they were married three months later on December 18, 1950. Their daughter, Jolene, was born September 20, 1953 in Enid. During her childhood they lived in Enid, Leadville, Colorado, Oklahoma City and back to Enid in 1966.
In 1957, he began a lifelong passion of truck driving, “to see what was on the other side of the mountain”, interrupted in the early 70’s to work with his brothers Jim and Roger in Miami, Florida.
Jolene and Wess Gray were married in 1972, and they gave him three perfect granddaughters, Nicci (1975), Glenn (1983) and Lauren (1988), He and Glenda took each of their granddaughters to Las Vegas for celebration of their 21st birthdays.
While living in Carmen for 17 years, he purchased the bowling alley in Cherokee with his brother Jim (as well as bringing his father and his brothers Jim and Jack and their families to live in Carmen as well).
Howard and Glenda moved back to Enid in 2000. During the last years of career, he and Glenda saw all 48 contiguous states and part of Canada as they trucked around the USA.
After retirement in 2010 at age 79, they spent time with family, adding grandsons-in-law, Chris, Michael and Corey. Also, three great-grandchildren who called him “Poppo”, Gabriel, Amita and Emersyn, For the past 5 years he cared for Glenda as her dementia worsened and was broken hearted when she required care outside of their home.
He leaves behind his wife, Glenda, daughter and son-in-law Jolene and Wess Gray, Nicci and Chris Crowley (Gabriel and Amita), Glenn and Michael Brown (Emersyn) and Lauren and Corey Keller. His sister, Judy Hodson, brother Roger and wife Karen, sister-in-law Kathy Burdg, and sister-in-law Letha Schulz, and a bunch of nieces and nephews who treasured him.
His was a curious, voracious reader, and tech savvy with his iPhone, iPad and Apple watch.
He believed country music died with Hank. Sr, and as his son-in-law said,
“He was the greatest
man I ever met.”
Funeral service will be Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:00 am in Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dwayne Schroeder officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Arrangements are by Anderson-Burris Funeral Home and Crematory.
Memorials may be made through Anderson-Burris to Loaves and Fishes or Bennie’s Barn.
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