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Walter Clinton Burkhardt Obituary
Dr. Walter Clinton Burkhart, 104, died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1996.
A native of Woodsfield, Ohio, Dr. Burkhart was a son of the late Charles Burkhart and Catherine Long [sic-Lang] Burkhart. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl Pennington Burkhart.
Dr. Burkhart received his D.V.M. degree in 1916 from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, where he was member of Alpha Psi social fraternity. He came to Athens in 1916 as an instructor in bacteriology at the University of Georgia and also was director of the State Hog Cholera Virus and Serum Laboratory.
In 1933, the veterinary program was discontinued and Dr. Burkhart joined the College of Arts and Sciences, where he taught bacteriology and was head of the bacteriology department. His basic bacteriology class was a required class for students in five different colleges. In 1957, he joined the College of Veterinary Medicine and taught until his retirement in 1960 at the age of 67.
During his 44 years of teaching at the university he influenced many students who remember him today not only as an exceptional teacher but also as a man whose high standards required that they perform at their best.
Some of Dr. Burkhart's major contributions to science have been in the fields of hog cholera virus and serum production, bacterial examination of milk, control of infectious abortion in cattle, streptococci mastitis, protozoal disease of domestic animals, bacterial vaccines and white diarrhea of chickens.
Dr. Burkhart was nationally known and an outstanding man in the field of science. He was selected for "Who's Who, American Men of Science." He was a fellow in the American Association of Science for the Advancement of Science and was a member of the Society of American Bacteriologists.
He was a member of the Honorary Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Zeta. He was president of the South Eastern Branch of the Society of American Bacteriologists. He was a member of the Mount Vernon Lodge 22 F. and A.M. and completed 75 years in the Masonic fraternity. He served as first lieutenant in the Veterinary Corps in World War II.
The University of Georgia and the citizens of this state are indeed fortunate to have had a man of this caliber who devoted his entire life to the instruction of students and the advancement of science.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Oconee Hill Cemetery, with the Rev. Grady Wigley officiating.
Survivors include two daughters, Catherine B. Healey and Ann Burkhart; two grandsons, Charles S. Healey II and William Walter Healey; five great-grandchildren; a great great granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Charles S. Healey, William W. Healy, T. Kevin Healey, Dr. James Keller, Warren Wilkinson, Dr. William Van Eseltine, S.E. Hogan and Ralph Smith.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Bridges Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Masonic Children's Home of Georgia, Secretary, Mount Vernon Lodge, P.O. Box 989, Athens, Ga. 30603.
Source: Athens [Georgia] Daily News/Banner-Herald, Thursday, November 7, 1996