OBIT: Richard A. BURKETT, 2004, Laurel Mountain, Somerset County, PA
  
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  RICHARD A. BURKETT
  
  Richard A. Burkett, 79, died at his home on Laurel Mountain Summit, April 9,
  2004, following a long illness.  He was born in Reading, a son of the late
  Howard and Helen Burkett.  He is survived by his wife, Nancy Truitt-Burkett;
  son Darryl and his children Rebecca and Darryl; son Blake and his wife
  Sharon; daughter, Candace Purcell and her husband Kevin; and their children
  Nikala and Shane, all of the Chicago area; a sister Claire Shultz; a brother
  Walter Burkett; several nieces and nephews all of Reading; his mother-in-law,
  Mary K. Miller of Ligonier and a special friend, Raven.  He served with the
  U.S. Marines in the South Pacific theatre during World War II, participating
  in several island offenses.  A metallurgist and inventor, he began his career
  with Brylium Corp.  In the 1970's he was awarded a patent for a new specialty
  alloy that he developed.  He owned and operated Penn Precision Products of
  Rolling Green, IlL. and Reading and subsequently owned and operated EMT
  Corporation, St. Petersburg, Fla., where he lived before settling in the
  Ligonier area.  He was a long time member of Copper and Brass Association.  An
  avid sportsman, he qualified in 1953 for the U.S. Open at the Oakmont Country
  Club in Pittsburgh by virtue of his low handicap amateur rating.  As a youth,
  he played semi-pro basketball in the Reading area.  He was a member of the
  Rolling Green Country Club, Ill., the Moselem Springs Golf Club, Reading, and
  the Pasadena Country Club in Pasadena, Fla.  He attended the Passadena Florida
  Community Church.  Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
  Monday at the Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Bell and E. Church St.,
  Ligonier, Pa. Service will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the
  funeral home.  The Rev. David A. Bell officiating.  Interment Ligonier Valley
  Cemetery.  The family suggests memorial donations be made to your local
  hospice in Richard's memory.  Elizabeth Snyder Bloom, Funeral Director.
  
  Daily American, April 10, 2004