Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

November 18, 2023

CHARLOTTE – Frank E. Burgess II, 87, passed away at Southminster Retirement Community on Saturday, November 18, 2023, of natural causes.  He was born on June 20, 1936, to Eric and Ruth Burgess in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Frank was a 1958 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations.  He was an avid Tar Heel fan and loved watching or attending Tar Heel basketball, football, and baseball games.  Frank was also a member of the Chi Psi fraternity. While at UNC he was in the Navy ROTC and actively served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1961.  He was mainly stationed in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.  Frank joined Du Pont after serving in the Navy and was with the Pigment & Chemical division in sales, marketing, and management.  He retired from Du Pont after a long and successful career in 1995.

In April 1960, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Beverly Van Zandt. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage and lived in Mobile, Alabama; Cincinnati, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware; Atlanta, Georgia; and Charlotte, NC.  They traveled all over the United States, usually centered around a famous golf course.  They also spent time in the Caribbean, mainly in the Abaco Islands and US Virgin Islands.

In addition to travel, Frank loved sports and enjoyed playing golf as much as possible with friends, family, and customers.  He also volunteered with the American Red Cross later in life as a transportation driver.

Frank is survived by his son, Eric Burgess and his wife, Paige; his grandson, Turner Burgess and his wife, Maggie.  He was preceeded in death by his wife, Beverly Burgess; his infant daughter, Diane; infant grandson, Nathan; his parents, Eric and Ruth; his brother, Lowry; and his beloved aunt, Besty Walker.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, December 8, 2023, in the chapel of Southminster, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, North Carolina followed by military honors.  He will have a military burial at sea by the US Navy at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Frank to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037 or https://www.redcross.org/.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.