Orval Burke was born June 28, 1920, in Dover Township, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He went to be with his Heavenly Father, November 10, 2019. He is preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Verna J. Burke; son, Thomas Wayne Burke; and daughter, Patricia W. Campbell.

He is survived by his daughter, Joanne Burke Marshall and husband Larry; son-in-law, Robert Campbell; grandchildren, Terry Burke, Brenda White, Sherri Hoeler, Ed Marshall, and Carol McDermott Cheng; along with many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

He moved his family to Texas in November of 1954 from Kent County, Ontario, Canada, where he farmed. In Texas, he was homebuilder in the Houston area and after retiring in 1973, moved to Onalaska, Texas, and built more homes in this area. He and Verna became Naturalized U.S. Citizens on May 1, 1991. He became lifelong friends with many of the people he built homes for. He enjoyed flying his plane and fishing. He was a 32nd degree Mason and was active for many years and was also active in the Idewilde Homeowners Association.

He attended the Onalaska United Methodist Church and later the Livingston First United Methodist Church.