Rev. Donald A. Burge

Rev. Donald A. Burge, 91, of Sebring, passed away Friday Sept.7, 2012, at Crandall Medical Center in Sebring, Ohio. He was born May 19th, 1921, in Centralia, PA, to Alfred G. and Florence A. (Benfield) Burge. He resided in Sebring since 1990. Rev. Burge attended elementary school and graduated from high school in Centralia, PA. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and received his seminary training at Boston University School of Theology. The ministry was his life and he was dedicated to serving all ministries and all facets of his career. He worked tirelessly for the church along side his many colleagues that remained his friends, throughout his life as a minister. He was passionate about his work with the church and also with the Salvation Army-Sebring Unit. He remained active even after retirement until recently when his health wouldn't allow. Rev. Burge retired in 1984 from the East Ohio United Methodist Conference. Churches he served as pastor were; Mt. Zion Methodist Church, Moreland United Methodist Church, Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in East Canton, First United Methodist Church in Martins Ferry, Christ Community Methodist Church in Canton, and the First United Methodist Church in Cambridge. Rev. Burge served as Superintendent of the St. Clairsville District. He was a member of the Bunker Hill United Methodist Church in Beloit. Following retirement, he was commissioned as a National Missionary of the Board of Global Ministries and was assigned to the Center for Town and Rural Ministries in Columbus, a project of two Annual Conferences and the two United Methodist Theological Schools in Ohio. He served as the Director of Parish Development. In the East Ohio Methodist Conference, he served on numerous committees and boards, Board of Missions, Higher Education, ordained Ministry, the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, the Center for Town and Rural Ministries, Parish Development, Copeland Oaks and Crandall Medical Center Board of Trustees. He was an active supporter of the Salvation Army-Sebring Unit. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Elizabeth (Waselkov) Burge of Sebring, whom he married Nov. 1989; sons, William C. (Alma) Burge of Huron, D. Russell (Monica) Burge of Dover; daughter, Vicki Ferrero of Massillon; granddaughters, Kristine (Jason) Goodard of Orrville, Angela (Brian) Daniska of Massillon, Melissa (Geoff) Kies of Perrysburg, and Amy (David) Yenkin of Columbus; grandsons, Benjamin (Karen) Burge of Atlanta, GA and Andrew Burge (Michele) of Elkridge, MD; great-grandchildren, Brecken and Billy Kies of Perrysburg, Dominic Goodard of Orrville, Isabella Daniska of Massillon, and Audrey Yenkin of Columbus; step-children; Dr. Greg (Linda) Waselkov of Fairhope, AL, and Gary Waselkov, of Cape Coral, FL; step-grandchildren; Katie Waselkov, of St. Louis, MO, and Nicholas Waselkov and Peter Waselkov, both of Fairhope, AL. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Flo (Wirt-Mullet) Burge, and a sister, Anna (Burge) Keller. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 13th in Bennett Chapel at Copeland Oaks with Rev. Clark Kandel officiating. There will be no calling hours prior to the service. Friends and family may join the family in Williamsburg Lounge in Copeland Oaks following the memorial service. Interment will be in the Moreland United Methodist Cemetery, Moreland, Ohio. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Copeland Oaks Care Fund. Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.