David Joseph Burke was born in Dillon, Montana, on July 15, 1915. He was the eldest of ten children born to Joseph David Burke and Rose of Lima (Dowling) Burke. In 1928, the Burke family moved to Santa Monica, CA. David graduated from St. Monica's High School and attended Santa Monica City College. As a teenager during the Depression, he was fortunate to have a job for two or three years as beach boy at the exclusive Santa Monica Beach Club, employment gained through the good offices of the legendary Monsignor Conneally, later depicted by Barry Fitzgerald in the film Going My Way. David remained loyal to St. Monica's for his entire life and to the very end felt that if you'd been to Mass at St. Monica's, you'd really been to Mass.

When World War II loomed on the horizon, David was advised by his employer, Mr. Helenthal, to volunteer and not wait to be drafted, which he did, and held every enlisted rank but one before receiving a commission in the Army in 1943. That same year he married Marionlou ("Lou")Powers, of Joliet, Illinois, and together they embarked on what turned out to be a 22-year military career. After the war and the separation of the Air Force from the Army, David went with the Air Force. His assignments ranged from Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone immediately following the war, to California, Kansas, back to California, and in 1955, to Madrid, Spain, followed by a stint in northern Maine. His last assignment was at 8th Air Force Headquarters, Westover AFB in Springfield, Massachusetts, from which he retired in 1964, having achieved the rank of Colonel.

After his retirement from the Air Force, he worked for 15 years at Lockheed Corporation, in Ontario, CA, while residing in Riverside. Towards the end of his employment with Lockheed, he and Lou began looking around for a permanent place to which to retire, and discovered Lompoc somewhat by accident. They moved here in 1979, from which time he was a parishioner of Queen of Angels Catholic Church, until he left to live in Oakland, in 2012. Not long after moving to Lompoc, David was introduced to the game of golf by a neighbor, and while he was never satisfied with his prowess, he did enjoy playing at the Village Country Club for a good many years.

In February of 2012 he moved to Mercy Retirement and Care Home, operated by the Sisters of Mercy, in Oakland, CA, very near the home of his son, Steven, where he passed away suddenly, but most peacefully on September 27. He is preceded in death by his wife and eight of his nine siblings. He is survived by his children, Pamela Burke (Jon Picciuolo), Steven Powers Burke (Alison), grandchildren Brendan Powers Burke (Angelina) and Meredith Melrose "Molly" Burke , as well as his sister Ann Butterfield (Bud) of Lacey, WA, and numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Lawrence S. Riemer of Lompoc, and his office nurses, Lena and Cindy, for the many years of dedicated professional and personal attention they gave to Dad, and to thank also Diane Zacagnino, who so well looked after Dad and got him to the church on time for the three months or so before he left for Mercy. We are also extremely grateful to the staff at Mercy for the kindness and careful attention they gave to Dad during his time there.

A Mass of Christian Burial at Queen of Angels Church, followed by interment in Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m., with Fr. J. Lawrence L. Santos officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Mercy Retirement and Care Center, 3431 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, CA 94601-3129.