Roy Burkham

Roy Franklin Burkham passed away in Greenville, Texas, on Tuesday morning, June 2, 2020. Roy was born in Dixon (Greenville), Texas, on September 13, 1931, the son of Charles William Burkham and Bessie Belle Boney. Roy married Patricia Ann Haynes (mother of Jeff and Lisa) in 1961.  His second marriage was to Donna Lynn Sumpter (mother of Amy) in 1974.  Late in life, he married his beloved Lloydette McClearen Pederson in Albuquerque, NM,on July 23, 2009.

Roy graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1951, then continued his education at North Texas State College (now named University of North Texas), where in 1960 he earned his Bachelors degree in Education.  He taught Junior High in Mansfield, TX for 10 years. He then started and ran an employment agency in TX and NM for nearly 10 years. Over the next 12 years, Roy was V.P. of  Operations for several small oil companies in NM, CA, and then TX.

In 1995, he returned to his true lifelong passion of teaching.  For 11 years, he taught High School math and science in Rockdale, TX, retiring in 2006. After returning to Greenville, he left retirement to teach science at Phoenix Charter School in Greenville. Roy finally retired for good at the age of 79 in 2011, remaining in retirement in his beloved hometown of Greenville, Texas.  Roy was volunteer fireman and a member of Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Those left to cherish Roy’s memory are his son, Jeffery K. Burkham of Greenville; daughters, Lisa G. Angerstig of Greenville, Amy C. Hickey and husband Clarke of Santa Fe, NM; grandchildren, Erik Angerstig, Isak Angerstig, Ester Angerstig, Grace Angerstig; sister, Annie Reese; and numerous family and friends.

Roy was preceded in death by his wife Lloydette; his parents, Charles and Bessie; and his brothers, Rodney Burkham, Charles Burkham, Haskell Burkham, Benson Burkham, Arthur Burkham; and his sisters, Margaret Wade, Ellen Smith, Mary Warlick.