Richard Douglas Burk

On Thursday, August 27, 2020, Richard Douglas Burk, devoted husband, brother, and loving father of 6 passed away at the age of 65.

Richard was born January 8, 1955, in Berwick, PA, to Frederick and Helen Burk. His family moved to Florida when he was two. Richard graduated Salutatorian from Florida Christian High School in 1973. He met the love of his life, Debbie Cook, while working at Publix #111. He would often spend his breaks buying a candy bar or drink just so he could go through Debbie’s check out line. He finally convinced her to date him, and they were married February 1, 1975. Together they raised 6 children, all of whom love the Lord and know Christ as their Savior.
Richard and Debbie lived in Miami, FL, until 1987 while he worked for Graybar Electric. He transferred to Shreveport, LA, in 1988 to work as a branch manager for Graybar, before settling in Ransom Canyon, TX, in 1994 as their quotations manager. Richard was an entrepreneur and started his own company, Advanced Computer Solutions, or ACS, in 2004. Initials come first in the phone book, starting with A; he chose ACS so he would get the first call. He was the first one you could call for many things. He never shied away from any task, wearing the many hats of electrician, computer repairman, mechanic, carpenter, network engineer, fiber technician, among others. (Except plumbing. He really hated that.) He was a diligent and hard worker who taught his children never to do a job halfway and to work as if working for the Lord.

Richard was passionate about a lot of things, including the Lord, patriotism, gospel music, serving his wife, and teaching and loving his children. He gave his children a good foundation in the Bible, teaching them at home and also volunteering at AWANA. He raised strong daughters with equally strong opinions, and he modeled for his sons how to love and show kindness to their wives (for which his daughters-in-law are especially grateful.) Summertime often found him driving his family to Florida where he would drop them off with family after spending some time with them. He would return to work in Lubbock and allow them to spend the summer playing in the Sunshine State. He was willing to sacrifice for them, but we’re sure he enjoyed the peace and quiet it afforded as well. He was an accomplished organist. His brother Frederick and he had taken lessons as children, and both of them played for churches at various times. He was fun-loving and lived up to his nickname of Goofy, which he often gave as the name for his order at restaurants, just to hear it called out. It was rare to find him without his Big Gulp mug of Arizona Sweet Tea. Richard’s spiritual gift was mercy, and when someone needed something, it was as good as done if it was in his power to do so. He would give you the shirt off of his back, and that shirt would have been a polo with the Declaration of Independence and the American flag on it.

Richard is survived by his wife of 45 years, Debbie Cook Burk, his children Christina Burk, John Burk (Tiffany), Michael Burk (Kalli), Lauren Soto (Mario), Abigail Im (Peter), Sarah Burk, and his brother, Frederick Dale Burk, Jr. He will be lovingly remembered as Grandpa by his 9 grandchildren, Bryer, Bryson, Ada, Brynn, Elli, Camry, Brooklyn, Macie, and Nathan. His memory will be passed down to two sweet babies on the way.

In the words Richard so often spoke, “Praise the Lord!”

A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church at 5301 82nd Street in Lubbock, TX.

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