Robert Markley Burdette "Bob"

Robert (Bob) Markley Burdette,was called home to eternally in heaven on January 15, 2016. He passed on at home, surrounded by his wife Linda Burdette, son Christopher Archer, daughter-in-law Poppy Archer, and dog Yatzi after battling cancer for two years. Bob was a man who loved his family more than himself, loved his friends as family, and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life.

He was born in Baltimore to Gladys Marie Markley and George Robert Burdette on December 4, 1943. He grew up with the nickname Micky as his birth name was originally McClelland Markley Burdette which he later changed. He graduated from Northwest High School in 1961 where he ran for their track team and was a manager for the soccer team. Throughout grade and high schools, Bob helped his father deliver milk before and after school. Story has it that he learned to drive in that truck.

His mother passed on when he was 20 and he lost his father when he was 23, which instilled in him the desire to live, the desire to choose the life that you want. He enjoyed his friends and enjoyed the adventures they had. Bob was a car man, from a GTO to a Porche Boxster, he loved to drive and enjoy the ride.

Bob worked as an marketing executive in credit services for most of his career. He enjoyed his work and made many friends that he held close to his heart as dear friends. This is where he met his wife Linda. They enjoyed good times and held each other through the hard times. He became a step-father to Christopher, whom he not only loved but also took on to be his own.

The family had many trips together which Bob reminisced of until the end. Trips as short as West Virginia and as far as Italy gave him such joy and pleasure, even if only in memory. The food to the adventures were as vivid to him years later as if it were only yesterday. He truly enjoyed the expressions on the faces of those he experienced those moments with. One of his favorite things was to pick Christopher up at the airport, to give him the hug of ‘welcome home’, and to hear of all that he had done and experienced.

There are few people if any who did not like Bob and think he was a great guy. He thought of others before he thought of himself, even after his sickness began. From watering flowers, to walking dogs, to sending messages of support and encouragement, to unwavering support.

Bob enjoyed life in his own experience but also vicariously through those close to him. He loved his friends and neighbors as his family, supported and loved his family, and wanted us all to be happy.