Joseph Neal Burdick

JOSEPH N. BURDICK Joseph Neal Burdick, 66, of Vancouver, WA. died suddenly on Independence Day of 2014. He was born July 10, 1947 to the late Ralph and Natalie Burdick in Ephrata, WA. (Joe) was raised in the east Vancouver area of Orchards, WA where he attended the Evergreen district schools. He left school before graduation to enlist in the army. He served our country during the Vietnam War by fighting with the Bobcats of the 25th Division of the 5th Infantry where he was decorated many times. Later, Joe was so active in maintaining communications with former service comrades that in 2012, he received the "Bobcat of the Year" award from the Fifth Infantry. And in 2013 he received recognition from the Secretary of the Army in a special ceremony, held in San Francisco, CA., and he is now a distinguished member of the regiment. On June 4, 1971, he married Linda Ellenwood and they were blessed with twins, Tami and Joey. He was proud to receive his high school graduation diploma from the Battle Ground school district in 2009 during a special presentation for military veterans. Joe spent his entire civilian life in the Clark County area where he worked at ALCOA, VANALCO, and finally Frito Lay. Joe thoroughly enjoyed life through loving his wife, children, grand children and great-grand children. He was more than mechanically inclined. Joe could fix anything. He enjoyed trips to his property in the Long Beach peninsula, ocean cruise ship journeys, many cross-country road trips to reunions with his fellow Bobcats. He loved to drive his renewed '62 Impala SS to cruises and once even to a military reunion in Deadwood S.D. Bible Study groups continually renewed and reinforced his Christian beliefs. He brought many smiles, handshakes, remembrances and even tears of joy and lots of smiling conversations when he would hand out P-38's to anyone he spotted that was wearing an indicator of military service to our United States of America. Joseph Burdick is survived by his wife Linda, children Robert, Michael, Tami and Joey, as well as siblings Ralph (Suzanne), Mike (Nancy), and Sue (Randy Weich). A memorial service will be held at 12:30 PM, Wed. July 9th at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens Funeral Home (1101 NE 112th Ave. Vancouver, WA).

Joseph Neal Burdick

July 10, 1947 - July 4, 2014