Bud Burke, 85, native Phoenician, owner of Phoenix pharmacies and later an investment broker, died on May 25 in Phoenix. As a U.S. Army soldier in the Pacific during World War II, he earned three ribbons and five medals, including three bronze stars. His heroism included a lifelong humanitarian instinct; for example, he shot an enemy sniper from a tree but then rushed him to a field hospital and demanded treatment for the man, who survived. He was a member of Rotary 100, Boy Scouts, the Phoenix Country Club, and the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club. He was a founding member of the Phoenix Art Museum Men’s Council. His late wife, Elinore “Ellie” Geare Burke’s family operated the Central Avenue Dairy. His grandfather, Dennis A. Burke, mayor of Prescott, built and owned Prescott’s Hotel St. Michael, originally The Burke Hotel. On his mother’s side, Bud was the descendent of a family that had come to the Southwest with Father Serra and the Spanish colonists in 1769. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Butler (the late Stephen “Skip” Butler) and by his son, Dennis Michael Burke (Maureen West), both of Phoenix. He is also survived by grandchildren Beverly Damore (David), Stephen Butler (Dana), Austin Burke (Elanna Cahn), Lauren Burke (Jay Driskell), and by great grandchildren, Cody and Ella Butler. He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn Lane (Ray) and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorial contributions to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, 2831 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.
Thomas P. Collins, Reading Rm. Assist., Sharlot Hall Museum Archives
I am truly sorry that I never had the opportunity to meet Bud, since I had hoped in my research on Dennis A. Burke and the Hotel Burke of Prescott to find a family member with some old family anecdotes about Dennis Burke as well as a good portrait of Dennis Burke, who was twice elected mayor of Prescott. Please accept my condolences.
For your information, I have written an article about the Hotel Burke in two parts. Part I has just been published on the Sharlot Hall Museum Archives website. If you Google that, and look at the HISTORY paragraph, you’ll find “Days Past.” Click on that, and you’ll find my article, which may be of interest to your family. You might like to print out a copy for your scrapbooks.
I am a retired theater professor volunteering in the Archives of the Sharlot Hall Museum. We have only one photo of Dennis A. Burke, standing next to William Randolph Hearst. It’s a little dark. It accompanies the article. You may already have it in your family collection, but if you don’t, please enjoy. I would be most happy to hear from any of you on the subject of Dennis Burke, when you are able to deal with anything other than your present grief.
Again, my sincere condolences. I am so sorry for your loss, and sorry that I never got to meet and enjoy a conversation with Bud.
With sympathy,
Tom Collins
4637 Prairie Trail
Prescott, AZ 86301