Robert Clyde (Bob) Burke, 66, of Lake Wylie, SC, passed away, June 5, 2019, at home with his loving wife of 18 years, Dianne Leach Burke, and his two best friends and neighbors, Shirley and Lou Morgan.  He fought a courageous two-year battle against melanoma and brain cancer.

A celebration of life will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 15, 2019, in the chapel at M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 4820 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie, SC, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Jones.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service at a reception at the River Hills Marina Club, 54 Marina Road, in River Hills.

Mr. Burke was born on October 7, 1952, in Charlotte, NC.  He was predeceased by his father, Wyley Clyde Burke.  In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Norma Jeanne Bohannon Burke of Matthews, NC; his brother, Barry (Ann Marie) of Charlotte, NC; his two sisters, Bonny Boswell and Brenda Burke of Charlotte, NC; one nephew and several nieces.

Bob always had a smile on his face.  If you knew him, you know how much he loved his wife, Lake Wylie, video games, music, and cars, especially his dream car, a 2010 Grabber Blue Shelby GT 500 Mustang.  At one time he was an avid golfer, with a four handicap.  He enjoyed playing all across the United States and world, specifically the Olde Course in Scotland, St. Andrew’s Links.  Every time you see a decorative flag hanging on a flag pole, please think of Bob as he was instrumental in getting the decorative flag trend going when he opened Bob’s Flags in Pineville in 1986.  At every school where Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employed his wife, they had Bob as a volunteer.  He is known for doing anything anyone at the schools asked of him, his latest devotion to Billingsville Elementary School, now Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary School, where he will be missed!  He was known affectionately as “Papa Burke” and always had a twinkle in his eye, very similar to Santa Claus, especially when he was around the students.  Once diagnosed, he retired as a Senior Market Manager with LG Electronics.  He held degrees in both music and business from Appalachian State University.

The family would like to thank everyone who took care of Bob and sat with him while Dianne worked.  A special appreciation to Shirley and Lou Morgan, Scotty and Betty Leach Robertson, Sandi Stikeleather, Sue Rigsby, Brenna Walker, and his many, many friends who signed up to sit and chat with him through signupgenius.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, c/o Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980020, Richmond, VA  23298-0020.  Gifts can also be made online by visiting https://www.support.vcu.edu/give/pmdcenter

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.