Charles “Chuck” Shoup Burr

Charles “Chuck” Shoup Burr

12/11/2022

Charles “Chuck” Shoup Burr passed peacefully at home on Sunday, December 11, 2022.

Chuck was born in Chicago on November 18, 1930, and adopted one month later by Dr. Horace and Angela Burr, Goshen, IN. He was raised in Goshen and excelled in Mechanics in school, a trade which served him well throughout his life working on cars and aircraft. As a child he was active in St John’s Catholic Church as an Altar Server, often foregoing sports to serve. To earn money to go to the movies on Saturdays, he delivered papers on his bike and collected soda bottles, getting refunds from the store. He has fond memories of walking home from school to have lunch with his mother.

His father was a dentist and hoped Chuck would follow in his footsteps, but Chuck had other plans. As a young boy, he loved watching trains pass through Goshen, so after graduation, he became a fireman on the New York Central Railroad in Elkhart. His career was interrupted by service in the Air Force 1950-1954 in Korea. After another stint at the railroad, he re-enlisted in 1958 and became a Master Sergeant on C-130s, serving in Vietnam.

Chuck married Patricia Elaine Farrington June 23, 1956, in Goshen, IN and had four children, Eric, Anita, Elizabeth and Angela. In addition to many assignments in the United States, they lived in Japan, the Philippines, and DeLand, Florida.

Following retirement in 1977 in Washington State, he took a Marine Diesel Mechanics course and worked for Tacoma Marine Diesel.

After his father died, they moved to Hobe Sound, FL, to be near his mother where he worked for Pratt Whitney in West Palm Beach. In 1995 they moved again to DeLand to be near Pat’s mother, Phyllis Farrington. After Pat’s death in 2004, Chuck volunteered for 15 years at Memorial Hospital/Advent Health DeLand.

One day in April 2007, while on duty at the front desk, Chuck met Jane (nee Adams, Dean) Beyer, an RN at Advent Health. They married Nov 18, 2007, at St Peter Church in DeLand and lived with her mother, Belva Adams, until her death in 2020. Chuck was devoted to “Bevie” and catered to her every wish.

He often said he was lonely growing up as an only child, but there was much more to his story. His adopted father, Horace, married Goldie Brakes Burr and had a daughter, Jean, in 1918. Goldie died in childbirth, so Jean was raised by her grandparents. Chuck visited his stepsister, Jean, in Marion, IN, until her death in 2013. When he married Jane, he acquired an extended family of Adams relatives, all of whom warmly welcomed Chuck into their family. And through the miracle of Ancestry and DNA, they identified his deceased birth parents, John S Johnston and Marcella Kodym. Chuck met cousins from his father’s family, and most amazingly, in 2018 found three living half-sisters on his mother’s side. His sisters totally embraced their new big brother. It turned out he was not an only child.

Chuck was an awesome man who touched countless lives. He was well-respected and admired by all who knew him. His life has been one of service to his parents, his in-laws, his family, Jane’s family and her mother, his numerous new families, the hospital, St Peter Church as a Eucharistic Minister to the Sickand to his country. He was always proud to be an American and to have served for 22 years in the United States Air Force.

Chuck had some unique skills, being able to mimic voices to a “T”, wiggle his ears, forehead and eyebrows. Consequently, he was frequently asked to perform for his family.

Chuck is survived by his loving wife, Jane Burr;

His son, Eric Burr; his daughters, Anita (Dan) DellaPosta, Lisa(Gary) Puckett, Angie (Daniel Nuber) Bowen and stepdaughters, Tiffany Williamson and Michele Myers.

His grandchildren: Amber Afos, Zack (Ashley) Burr, Gabby Burr, Daniel (Shannon) DellaPosta, Amanda DeAngelo, Amy (Kosta Kapandelov) DellaPosta, Jason Bowen, Stasi Bowen,Morgan Williamson, Ethan and Aidan Myers

His great-grandchildren: Prim and Wylde Afos, Achilles and Anastasi Burr, Atty Cueva, Sierra Cruz,    Alexa DeAngelo, Richie and Daniella DeAngelo, Austin (Kerstin Gareau) DellaPosta, Sofia Kapandelov, and Evelyn Bowen.

His great-great-granddaughter: Scarlett DellaPosta

His brothers-in-law, John (Debbie) Adams, Dan (Lisa) Adams; sister-in-law, Patty (Larry) Pearson

His half-sisters:  Barbara Schier, Carol Economo and Kathleen (Jim) Fuller

And many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Horace and Angela Burr;stepsister, Jean Coffman; his first wife, Patricia Burr; great-grandson Thaddeus Afos; mother-in-law, Belva Adams, and sister-in-law, Penny Adams.

Services will be provided through Lankford Funeral Home, 220 East New York Ave, DeLand, FL. Viewing and prayer service on Thursday, December 15, 4-6pm.  Funeral will be at Lankford Funeral Home on Friday, December 16 with viewing 12:30-1:30 and funeral service at 1:30.

In Lieu of flowers, please make contributions to The Cradle Adoption Service, 2049 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 or Halifax Health Hospice, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Florida, 32129.