Robert G. Burgess

Robert Gary Burgess, age 86, of Fredericktown, PA passed peacefully April 9, 2025 in hospice care at Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, University Drive in Pittsburgh, PA surrounded by family.

Robert was born in Salt Lake City, UT to parents Robert Kyle and Irabelle June Burgess (Patterson) on September 12, 1938. He was the oldest of four children and lived in Utah and Washington during his childhood.

Robert graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City in 1956, where he lettered in football, swimming, and track. He matriculated to BYU, playing wide receiver on the football team during the 1958 season until a career-ending knee injury. He ultimately graduated from California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, CA with a BS in Social Sciences.

Robert, a Veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf War Eras and during Peacetime, served in the Army from 1961 to 1963 and the Navy from 1979 to 1998. He was deployed on the USS Ruben James, a Perry-class guided missile frigate, in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1990. He also fulfilled multiple tours at US Naval Activities United Kingdom in London, and served on the USS Milwaukee, a Wichita-class replenishment oiler, and the USS Boulder, a Newport-class tank landing ship.

His professional career included life as a service officer in the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh along with life as a naval recruiting officer for the Pittsburgh District where he retired from the Navy after 25 years of honorable service.

During his time with the Veterans Administration in Pittsburgh, he accepted an especially fulfilling role with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Regional Office where he assisted combat wounded veterans and their families with claims for awards and benefits.

Robert’s resume also includes many years at the American Red Cross where he served as a caseworker and field director, most notably accepting a Special Disaster Operation Assignment for Northern California Earthquake Relief efforts in 1989.

Robert remained active in retirement, traveling with his wife from a second marriage, Carol Ann Burgess (Wagner), enjoying his grandchildren, participating in local senior olympic games, dining at Bob Evans, and betting on the occasional horse race.

He was a friend to all, never having met a stranger, and won the hearts of his nurses and other medical team personnel until the very end.

Robert’s greatest accomplishment is the lifetime of examples he shared with his children as a role model for a selfless attitude, a caring heart, and a servant mindset. He will be dearly missed and eternally remembered.

Robert is survived by his sons Garry Marschall (Clark Keller), Kyle Henry (Michele Burgess) & grandchildren Harrison Brent and Scarlett Rose, his daughter Amy Marie (Troiani) & grandchildren Benjamin Alexander, Ella Marie, Julius Michael, and wife from his first marriage, Sharon Alma Joyce.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Irabelle, along with sister, Patricia Lynne, brothers John Logan and James Michael, and his wife, Carol.

All friends and family are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on April 25, 2025 @11:30am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2040 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. Memorial Service will be followed by interment with military honors at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies @1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in our father’s memory are encouraged to the Veterans Health Foundation, the American Red Cross, or the Wounded Warrior Project. www.slaterfuneral.com