Charles L. Burkhart of Crawfordsville passed away in his easy chair Thursday afternoon.  He was 86.

Charlie was a funeral director for 65 years, working up to manager of J. C. Wilson's in Indianapolis.   In 1968, he moved to Crawfordsville to purchase the funeral home that became Burkhart Funeral Home, which he continued to operate with his sons.  He served 8 years as Montgomery County Coroner.  He spent over 20 years on the medical staff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as an ambulance driver.  He was a member of the Woodland Heights Christian Church as well as several civic and fraternal organizations.  He served his country in the U.S. Army medical corps as an ambulance driver in Korea.

Born Jan. 13, 1935 in Beech Grove, he was the son of Carl N. Burkhart and Edna L. Byers Burkhart.  He attended Indianapolis Manual High School and the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.  He married Sandra Eavey on Aug. 4, 1963.  She passed away Feb. 15, 1996.  He married Ruby Harmon Wood on Sept. 11, 1999.  She survives.

Surviving family includes: wife, Ruby Burkhart of Crawfordsville; two sons, Carl Burkhart (Sara) of Crawfordsville, Craig Burkhart (Kat), of Darlington; three step-daughters, Debi Cruea (Brad), Dianne Gordon (Paul), both of Crawfordsville and Jocele Harrison of Lebanon; sister, Maryellen Sturgeon of Indianapolis; along with 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Sandy and an infant brother, Carl Edward.

His family will be having a public gathering to remember his life on Sunday, Aug. 29th from 1 to 3 PM at Burkhart Funeral Home.

Charlie hated flowers and seat belts, so rather than sending flowers, please honor him with a donation to the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County, 1104 Big Four Arch Road, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.

Online condolences may be made www.BurkhartFH.com.