Cover photo for Richard A. Burgert's Obituary
Richard A. Burgert Profile Photo
1929 Richard 2015

Richard A. Burgert

May 5, 1929 — September 12, 2015

Richard Allen Burgert, Sr., 86, of Elizabethtown, formerly of Myerstown, PA and Worthington, Ohio passed away early September 12, 2015.

Born in Franklin, PA on May 5, 1929, he was the son of the late Clifford J. Burgert and the late Cecil Vincent (Jones) Burgert. Richard (Dick) was the loving husband of Annette (Kunselman) Burgert and they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this past June.

Dick was predeceased by his son, Richard A. Burgert, Jr., two sisters, Barbara Slaughenhaupt and Jolene Kresge and three brothers-in-law. Surviving in addition to his wife, Annette are two daughters, Kerrie Burgert Badertscher, wife of Kurt Badertscher of Allenspark, Colorado and Susan Ann (Burgert) Baumgartner, wife of Robert Baumgartner of Gregory, Michigan; five grandchildren: Kyle Badertscher of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Beth Baumgartner, Tom Baumgartner and Leyna Baumgartner all of Gregory Michigan; and Erin Burgert of Elyria, Ohio. Also surviving is a sister, Sondra King of Beaver Falls, PA, and his sister-in-law, Louella (Kunselman) Kightlinger and her husband, Art Kightlinger of Erie, PA. Dick also had numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Richard served in the United States Marine Corp in the period immediately following World War II. After his service in the USMC, Richard attended Bliss Electrical School (now Montgomery County Junior College), in Silver Springs, MD. After graduating there, he enrolled at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana (now Trine University) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1952. Richard was a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

His entire career was spent working in the public utility fields, first with Penelec in western PA, then 20 years with Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company where he retired as a Vice-president of C & SOE, a subsidiary of American Electric Power. After his retirement there, Richard accepted a position as Lebanon Division Director of Metropolitan Edison Co., PA.

Where ever Richard lived and worked was always active as a volunteer for many charitable organizations. At various times, he served on the boards of United Way, Red Cross, and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Richard had been director and past president of the Worthington, OH Area Chamber of Commerce. After moving back to Pennsylvania area he also served on the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development, the Board of Trustees for the Lebanon Library and was active in the Lebanon Rotary.

As a young man, Dick was a member of DeMolay and while at Tri-State College, he was a member of Sigma Mu Sigma fraternity, a Masonic-sponsored group there. He became a member of the Masonic Lodge in Angola, Indiana in 1951, and has since received his 50 year and 60 year pins from Mt. Olivet Lodge no. 704, F&AM, Lebanon, PA. Other Masonic activities included Aladdin Shriners, Columbus, Ohio; he was also a member of the AASR Consistory, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the Valleys of New Castle and Oil City. When Richard moved back to Pennsylvania he was an active member of the Mount Olivet Lodge in Lebanon, PA.

Also as a youth, Dick was active in the Boy Scouts of America, reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult, he continued his participation in Scouting, eventually serving as Scout Master of Troop 333 at the Worthington, Ohio, Presbyterian Church for several years. Dick received numerous awards thru B.S.A.

Dick always enjoyed gardening, growing and grafting fruit trees. In retirement, he enrolled in the Penn State Master Gardener program in Lebanon County Cooperative Extension. He served many years as a volunteer and was honored with a rarely given Emeritus Status in 2000.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St. Franklin where family and friends will be received from 11:00 A.M. - Noon on Saturday.

Funeral services will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel with Reverend Richard Kightlinger, Richard's nephew, officiating.

Interment will follow at Franklin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to contribute may do so in Richard's memory to the Masonic Village Hospice or to Masonic Charities in Elizabethtown, PA.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard A. Burgert, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, September 19, 2015

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Huff - Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc.

312 West Park St., Franklin, PA 16323

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Starts at 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Huff - Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc.

312 West Park St., Franklin, PA 16323

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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