Anna Haskins Burke, 88

Anna Haskins Burke, 88, of Gallipolis, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Arbors at Gallipolis.

She was born February 22, 1927 in Gallipolis, daughter of the late Harold “Doc” and Beulah Cherrington Haskins. Anna married Frankie L. Burke on February 2, 1952 and he preceded her in death on January 26, 2013.

Anna graduated from Gallia Academy High School in 1945 and Rio Grande College in 1947. She was employed by the Gallipolis City Schools where she proudly served and touched the lives of 1st grade students at Washington Elementary for 32 years. Though she had no biological children of her own, she was honored to say she had taught about 1000 children during her career.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gallipolis, as well as the Betty Stam Sunday School Class, Gallia County Senior Citizens and the Gallipolis Chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers. In later years she loved to travel with a dear group of friends – John and Wanda Burlile, Howard and Ruth Thivener and Cliff and Jean Wilson. She was known for deep love of her family and her selfless acts of kindness.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother and his wife, Paul (Bud) and Joan Haskins, and her sister and very best friend, Jean Haskins Martin.

Surviving are a brother and sisters-in-law, John and Jane Milhoan of Gallipolis, Mary Burke of Rutland; nieces and nephews, Kathy Nagy, Vicki (Norm) Swindler and Dixie (Jeff) Golden, all of Gallipolis, Richard (Terri) Haskins of Meigs County, and Chris (Pat) Dougherty of New Albany, Indiana, Lavonne Burke Jeffers of Springboro, Ohio, Mike Burke of Rutland, Connie Day and Nancy Miller of California, Richard Burke of Virginia, Carolyn Urlasewich of Florida and Barbara Blevins; “Grandchildren”, Bob and Debbie Pegg, Bill and Alena Pegg with David, Brian and Adam, Amber Bartrum with Tianna and Colton, Nathan and Jencie Swindler, Brittany Morton with Riley and Kash, Alicia and Gavin Logsdon with Landry Kate and Jeffrey and Jared Golden; and special friends, Jerry and Ruth Ann Evans, and the loving staff and family of the 2nd floor of the Arbors.

Services will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at the Willis Funeral Home with Chaplain Bob Hood and Pastor Alvis Pollard officiating. Burial will follow in Centenary Cemetery. Friends may call prior to the service on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Betty Stam Sunday School Class in c/o of First Baptist Church, 1100 Fourth Avenue, Gallipolis, OH 45631 or the Arbors Activity Fund, c/o Whitney Burgess, 170 Pinecrest Drive, Gallipolis, OH 45631.

Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.