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Friday, May 26, 2023
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Rev. Elmer Edward Burrall
November 24, 1928 – April 30, 2023
How does one capture 94 years of a truly extraordinary earthly life? Elmer E. Burrall went home to be
with his Lord and Savior at the age of 94 on April 30, 2023, in Hot Springs Village, AR. Born and raised in
Wheeling, WV to a loving family, he was the 4 th of 5 children. He and his wife of 50 years, Kay, were high
school sweethearts who attended separate colleges both graduating on June 5, 1950. Four days later
they married on June 9, 1950, and immediately began their life goal of serving in the mission field
abroad. They were commissioned as lay missionaries through the Board of World Missions of the
Lutheran Church and set sail for India where they served until 1966. All five Burrall children were born
in India, the girls in Kodaikanal and the boys in Guntur.
Elmer received his Civil Engineering degree from West Virginia University. He belonged to Chi Epsilon
and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi. His mission work included building schools, hospitals, and churches
and supervising the Boys’ Industrial School.
While in India, Elmer answered the call to ordained ministry and began his seminary education. He
received his Master of Divinity and was ordained in St. Matthews Church in Guntur, India on Dec. 18,
1964. He served for a time as Chaplain at Kodaikanal International School.
Following their return to the United States, Rev. Burrall served Lutheran parishes in Lewisburg, Ohio;
Washington Court House, Ohio; Fountain Hills, Arizona; Midland, Texas; Oklahoma City, OK (as regional
director for CROP – a world hunger organization); and finally to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in 1979.
He served until his retirement in 1994 becoming Pastor Emeritus of that congregation. Following
retirement, he and Kay served interim pastorates in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and in Yuma,
Arizona. Throughout life, he and his wife shared their “itchy feet” and love of travel by showing their
family the wonders of the United States and Canada in a station wagon covered in “flower power” with
a huge luggage rack on top, or in an International Harvester towing an 18-foot beeline trailer. In 1991,
the whole family was blessed to travel once again to India for a trip of a lifetime.
Church building was his calling in every aspect of his life. Elmer was an avid fisher – of animals and men
– he loved the outdoors and world travel. He most especially loved people and all who knew him were
drawn to his amazing kindness, quick wit, and incredible sense of humor. Word play and puns were
forever favorites – a trait all Burrall children inherited. He was a handyman always working on a project
and a whistler extraordinaire with perfect pitch and rhythm. He loved good-natured pranks and never
met a stranger.
He was predeceased by his parents, Elmer Louis and Wilma Mae (Cooey) Burrall; his siblings, Betty
Stewart, William Burrall, James Burrall, and Sidney Burrall; his grandson Todd Alan Jenkins; and his
stepson Bruce Bowes. His beloved wife, Kathryn Marshall Burrall, died in November of 2000.
He is survived by his loving second wife, Anne Bowes; his children: Karen (Dr. Robert) Papp of Topeka,
Kansas; Robert Burrall of Heber Springs, Arkansas; Alan Burrall (Thomas Yore) of Chicago, Illinois; Linda
Deines of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; and Carolyn Burrall of Heber Springs, Arkansas; and his loving
step-sons, Brian Bowes of Monroe, Louisiana and family; and Scott Bowes of Hot Springs Village,
Arkansas; six grandchildren: Sidney Ganeles, Cole Pequignot, Leslie Peguignot, Sheila Burrall, Tammie
Burrall, Autumn Bennett; and great-grandchildren Harley Ganeles, Austin Oglesby, Dani Jenkins, Miah
Jenkins, Amiyah Bennett, Henry Bennett, Kosta Pequignot; great-great grandchildren Ben Oglesby and
Willow Oglesby. Elmer is also survived by relatives and friends who are family to us all worldwide.
Well done, good and faithful servant!
Celebration of Life will be Friday, May 26, at 2:00 pm at Christ Lutheran Church, 103 Ponferrada Way, Hot Springs Village, AR with Rev. Tommy Toombs officiating.
Memorials may be given to an organization of your choice that supports love of God, diversity of all his
creation, and inclusivity of community.
Friday, May 26, 2023
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Christ Lutheran Church
Visits: 6
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