MARSHALL-Tom Burgess, 88, of Marshall, Indiana passed away peacefully Friday, May 19, 2023, at the Waters of Covington only a day after moving there. He was the retired owner of the Sears Catalog Store in Rockville with 23 years of service delivering appliances to people in the surrounding area. He was born March 3, 1935, in Hessville, Indiana to the late Letcher T. Burgess and Edna Smith Burgess.
Tom was a 1954 graduate of Lowell High School and married Fern Hutton (who survives) in 1955. Tom joined the United States Marine Corps, serving two years before going back to northern Indiana to work in the oil refinery. The couple became parents with the birth of their daughter in Gary, Indiana in 1957. Tom was an athlete during high school and at the urging of his high school coach took two weeks of vacation from his job to go to Indiana University where he was successful as a “walk on” to the varsity football team as a 22-year-old freshman. The couple added three boys to their family during their college days in Bloomington, all named with initials “TD” for “touchdown” and confirming Burgess’ love of the game passed down to his sons. Tom graduated from Indiana University with a degree from the School of Education. He played a year in the semi-pro league Indianapolis Warriors of the United Football League which was operated as a feeder league to the NFL between 1961 and 1964.
The Burgess family moved to Parke County in 1962 and Tom used his degree to teach and coach at Turkey Run and Fountain Central High School before leaving teaching and opening the Sears Catalog Store in Rockville. Later in life he was blessed to work with his sons in a carpentry business before working at Rockville Lake Park during his retirement.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Fern Viola Hutton Burgess whom he married June 4, 1955 in Lowell. Also surviving, his children, Robin (Steve) Stewart of Marshall, Doug (Sally) Burgess of Rockville, Todd (Pam) Burgess of Rockville, and Ted (Darla) Burgess of Marshall; grandchildren, Heather (Brian) Emery, Kelsey (Jason) Carmichael, Morgan (Todd) Hester, Brodie (Kara) Burgess, Mollie (Larron) Golden, Natalie (Justin) Cole, Tyler (Kara) Burgess, Trent (Katie) Burgess; 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a brother; Letcher Burgess and two sisters, Alfrida Arrington and Midge Ellis. He was a member of the Marshall Federated Church, enjoyed hunting and was one of the founding organizers of an annual fishing trip to Canada, along with Earl Shirer. Tom was a loyal family man who loved his children and his grandchildren. Meeting the great grandchildren was a special joy.
Services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, May 24, at Marshall Federated Church, 105 N. Main Street, with Pastor Brian Holt and Rev. Neal Hartzell officiating. Burial will follow with military graveside honors by Parke County veterans in Poplar Grove Cemetery, Marshall. Visitation is 4-8 pm Tuesday at Marshall Federated Church.
Memorials should friends so desire, may be made to Marshall Volunteer Fire Dept, PO Box 188, Marshall, IN 47859, or Sugar Creek Resource Center, 1497 E. SR 47, Marshall, IN 47859 or American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116 in his memory.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Gooch Funeral Home, Rockville.
Online condolences may be shared at www.goochfuneralhome.com.