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John W. Burke | Electrical engineer, 89

John Walsh Sr., 92, a retired road-construction foreman and community activist formerly of Oreland, died of heart failure last Friday at Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton, Fla.

John W. Burke, of Springfield, Delaware County, an electrical engineer, died of pneumonia at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media on Tuesday, a day before his 90th birthday.

Mr. Burke graduated from Norristown High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University. For 35 years, until retiring in the early 1980s, he was an electrical engineer with Allied Chemical Plant in Claymont, Del.

Mr. Burke was a ham radio operator and a football enthusiast. Several years ago, his daughter Anne Coste said, Villanova honored him for not missing a home game in 50 years. He also was often in the stands at Eagles games, his daughter said.

He loved dogs, especially German shepherds, and was devoted to his grandchildren, she said.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Burke is survived by daughters Joan Franks and Mari; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His wife of 65 years, Mary Margaret McGinnis Burke, died in 2006.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 135 Saxer Ave., Springfield, where friends may call after 9:30. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.