Raymond Burkhalter

Raymond Edwin Burkhalter NORTHPORT Raymond Edwin Burkhalter, age 89, of Northport, died Jan. 9, 2013, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. George L. Jackson, Rev. Paul Peeples, and Rev. Frances Prickett officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery with Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. He was preceded in death by his parents, John N. and Emily L. Burkhalter; an infant son, Raymond Edwin Burkhalter Jr.; and his loving wife of 59 years, Katherine White Burkhalter. Survivors include his daughters, Melissa Ann Burkhalter of Northport and Alene Burkhalter Fincher of Olive Branch, Miss.; his brother, Wilford Burkhalter of Northport; and his grandchildren, Ashley Fincher of Flowood, Miss. and Chris Fincher and Kimberly Fincher of Olive Branch, Miss. Mr. Burkhalter was born September 1, 1923, in Pickens County, Alabama to the late John N. and Emily L. Latham Burkhalter. He served in the Army during World War II, where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. He married Katherine Inez White on January 2, 1948. He founded Burkhalter Jewelers in 1950, where he was active until 2007. He was joined by his brother, Wilford Burkhalter, in 1966. They ran the store together for many years. Mr. Burkhalter was a member of Southside United Methodist Church, where he held many offices. He was also a member of The Gideons International. Pallbearers will be Dudley Burkhalter, Paul Prickett, Donald Hayes, Ken Burkhalter, Dennis Burkhalter, Johnny White, Boyd Burkhalter, and Bradley Atchenson. Honorary pallbearers are his nephew and special caregiver Richard Hayes, Southside United Methodist Church, Ray Kirkley, employees and former employees of Burkhalter Jewelers, neighbors of Briarwood, neighbors of Brookside, Karen Davis with Oxford Home Health, and Oma Miller. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Southside United Methodist Church, The Gideons International, and Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter.