Mr. Wallace E. Burkett Jr.

Wallace was born on March 9, 1939 in Boise, Idaho and was the son of Wallace and Marguerite (Powell) Burkett. At age 2, he moved to the Portland Area where he attended Washington High School. On March 9, 1956, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in Portland, Oregon. He received an honorable discharge on May 9, 1961 at McChord AFB in Washington at the rank of Airman Second Class.

On May 12, 1960, Wallace married Anita Degen in San Francisco, California. The couple quickly found their way back to Oregon where Wallace found work as an Air Traffic Controller, first in Pendleton then to Portland 6 months later. Wallace worked as an Air Traffic Controller until “the Strike” in 1981. He later worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office for 8 years, retiring in 1994. Wallace resided in Gresham for nearly 35 years.

Wallace had many hobbies throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed math and music but also mountain climbing and camping. He enjoyed long car rides though the back country of Eastern Oregon with his wife and also watching old time cartoons with his grandkids. He was the life of the party and a jokester and loved dearly by his family. He will be missed.

Wallace is survived by his wife, Anita of Portland, daughters; Kristin Fortune of Gresham and Susan Lawitzke of Rockaway, son, Steven Burkett of Portland, brothers; Lanny Phillips of Portland and Mike Phillips of Gresham and sister Linda Phillips of Gresham along with three grandchildren, Caitlin, Alex and Samuel Fortune.

A private service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in memory of Wallace to the Oregon Humane Society. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.