Thomas Rhudell "Rudy" Burklow

Thomas Rhudell (Rudy) Burklow, 94, died Sunday, January 29, 2017 at his residence. He was born on January 21, 1923 to the late GeorgeThomas (Policeman Tom) and Una Young Burklow in Letcher County, Kentucky. Rudy was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Barbara (Bobbie) as well as sisters Ruth Lowe, Ruby Akers and brothers Glenn and Martin.Rudy is survived by his daughter Lynda Grizzard and her husband William of Ball Ground, Georgia and sons Allen of the home and Robert and his wife Karen of Bristol. Also surviving is his granddaughter Katherine Burklow Peltier, her husband Hayden and their two children who reside in Colorado. A sister, Jean Hoke, lives in Florida.Shortly after graduation from high school Mr. Burklow enrolled himself in radio school to learn the trade of radio repair. At the onset of WWII the school was taken over by the Department of Defense and in 1942 he enlisted in the US Marine Corp. He was sent to the Naval Research Laboratory near Washington, DC where he received further training in radio and the emerging area of radar maintenance and repair. While there he met a fetching young employee of the Department of Interior named Barbara Smith and a life long romance ensued. Rudy served on the islands of the mid-Pacific during the war, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant before his discharge in 1945. He returned to Washington where he and Barbara were married on September 22, 1945. They located to Kokomo, Indiana and he enrolled in what was then called General Motors Institute (now Kettering University). He graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. In 1951 he and Bobbie moved to Bristol where he and his brother-in-law operated the Howard Terrace Motel and Restaurant. Later the motel was sold and Rudy continued to own and operate the restaurant until its closing in 1962. He returned to engineering with the Monroe Calculating Company and then Massengil Pharmaceuticals and eventually retired from GSK in Bristol. Following retirement he and Bobbie formed B&R Services which provided on site services to GSK. He was a member of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church.Friends and family are invited to gather at Blevins Funeral & Cremation Services, 417 Lee Street, Bristol, VA to share memories, stories and hugs from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2017. Committal Sevices and Entombment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a memorial donation to the Bristol Evening Lions Club where Rudy was a member and contributor for many years. Many of you know of his tireless efforts at candy and broom sales to support their work in the community. Your contribution would honor him. Donations may be made on line at bristoleveninglions.org; or http://bristoleveninglions.org of mail to Bristol Evening Lions Sight and Hearing Fund, 522 Lee Street, Bristol, VA 24201.The family would like to acknowledge the special care Rudy received while a resident at Oakmont at Gordon Park Assisted Living. More than caregivers, the staff and residents at Oakmont became friends.Condolences for the family may be sent and viewed by visiting www.BlevinsCares.com. Mr. Burklow and his family are in the care of Blevins Funeral & Cremation Services. (276) 669-6141.Read Obituary