Elmer Burrall

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.