Earlena (Hedges) Burkhart, age 87, of Elberfeld, IN, passed away at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at Amber Manor in Pike County. Earlena was born January 4, 1931, in Pike County, IN, the daughter Buthyl Edgar and Roxie Geneva (McCandless) Hedges. She graduated from Winslow High School in 1948 and married Dewey Burkhart in 1949.
Earlena received her Bachelor’s Degree from Oakland City University, Master’s Degree in Music and Counseling from Indiana University, and a second Master’s Degree in Psychology and Counseling from Indiana State University. She studied at Meningers Clinic. Earlena taught music in the public schools at Elberfeld and was later Associate Professor of Psychology at Oakland City College.
She was a licensed Clinical Social Worker for 28 years doing hospital social work and counseling at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, and she was also a licensed Clinical Phycologist. After retirement, she worked for an adoption agency where she placed many children, both in domestic and international adoptions. Earlena loved to write poetry and was very accomplished as an author, having written a book of religious poetry, Inspiration From The Son.
Earlena was a long-time member of Christian Fellowship Church. She is survived by her daughters, Sherry Oxley (David) of Tennyson, IN and Suzanne Williams (Phil) of Green Castle, IN; son, Richard Burkhart (Rosalinda) of Sinajana, Guam; sisters, Judy White (Jim) of Petersburg, IN; Myrna Jenkins (Bertie) of Petersburg, IN; and Sharon Riester (Wayne) of Sun City, AZ; grandchildren, Brent Williams, Chris Williams (Beth), Gina Quintanilla (Chris), Madison Burkhart, Jason Burkhart (Vanessa), Shane Oxley, Jennie Toopes (Tony), and Holly Stephens (Gary); and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Dewey Burkhart, who passed away in 2006; parents; and sister, Donetta Hedges.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 4, 2018 at Christian Fellowship Church at 4100 Millersburg Road Evansville with Pastor Cliff Herring officiating. Burial will be in Northview Cemetery in Elberfeld, IN. Friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 3, 2018 at Pemberton – Bradley Funeral Home in Lynnville, IN at 301 N Main St, Lynnville, IN and from 9:00 a.m. until service time Monday, June 4, 2018 at Christian Fellowship Church at 4100 Millersburg Road Evansville, IN.
Arrangements are being handled by BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN. Memorial Contributions may be made to: Christian Fellowship Church at 4100 Millersburg Road Evansville, IN 47725.
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