Dorothy A. Burks (nee Harland)

Dorothy A. Burks, 97, of Cincinnati went to be with the Lord on August 26,2022, after a brief illness.

Dorothy was born on June 15, 1925, the oldest of four children born to Carolyn (nee Currie) and 
William Harland.

Dorothy grew up in Evanston and Walnut Hills surrounded by an extended family. She attributed her life- long love of sewing to a Fifth Grade Home Economics class at Evanston Elementary School.  She fondly recalled her years in boarding school at Notre Dame in Northern Kentucky. The Nuns furthered her love of sewing and taught her to crochet.

Dorothy graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Hyde Park in 1943.  She attended Mount St. Joseph University. She left there to support the war effort by working at Wright-Aeronautical. That’s where she met George Burks in 1944. They were married in 1945 and went on to have nine children. Dorothy spent more than 20 years in the Kirby Road Elementary School PTA.  She also was a long-time Girl Scout leader.

After the children were raised Dorothy went to work for the Cincinnati Public Schools as a Reading Specialist. She retired after 10 years and went into Real Estate, working for Duffy and then Coldwell Banker.  She retired from Real Estate to care for her ailing husband.  George passed away in 1997. Dorothy then went to work for the IRS, retiring at age 85.

Dorothy was known for her kindness and generosity. Everyone was welcome in her home and no one left hungry. She was a wonderful cook. She always cooked for a crowd and a crowd usually showed up. Dorothy was an avid card player throughout her life.  She loved sewing and took delight in making a quilt for every one of her great grandchildren. Her mission during her retirement was to support the Tuition Fund at St. Aloysius School by getting friends and family to participate in their weekly raffle. She took delight in her nickname of “Queen of the Spilt the Pot”.  She was also recognized as a favorite customer at the Westside Ester Price store.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, George, her son George Jr., and her sister’s Sue Keast and JoAnne Behm.

She will be forever missed by her surviving children Leslie (Roger) Arthur; Jenny (Michael) Bird; Diane King; Mary (Tom) Tapke; Barbara (Gary) Hampton; Holly (Mike) Kahles; Star (Steve) Alexander and; Jim (Julie) Burks.

She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, and her brother William (Julie) Harland.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022 from 4-7 pm at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6041 Hamilton Avenue, College Hill, 45224 followed by Mass of Christian burial at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, 4366 Bridgetown Road, Bridgetown, 45211 on Saturday, September 3rd at 10 am. Burial at Spring Grove Cemetery immediately following. 

In her memory donations may be made to the St. Aloysius Adopt-A-Student Fund, 4366 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, OH 45211.