Pauline L. Burk-Beall

Born at home in Whitley County, Indiana on a freezing cold January night in 1923, her Dad had to keep the room warm for little Pauline and her mother.

Pauline L. Burk-Beall passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at age 100, while surrounded by her family. She remained generally healthy and mentally sharp until a few days before her death.
Born January 30, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Ben and Florence (Gongwer) Mellinger.

Pauline lived through the Great Depression, including time spent on a Michigan dairy farm with her family. Her family moved to Springport, IN in 1937, where she remained until 1972. She graduated from Mt. Summit high school in 1940. She attended Beauty School right after high school and worked as a manicurist in Anderson. During WWII, Pauline worked at a factory installing circuit boards for the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft – she was a true “Rosie the Riveter”. In 1945, she married Bill Burk and later owned her own beauty shop in Springport. The 1960’s were a blur while raising three young children. She also owned Yards and Yarn fabric store in Mt. Summit during the 70’s.

Pauline absolutely loved The Lawrence Welk Show, which she watched every week, and the game Boggle, which she would play for hours. She loved traveling and had been to all 50 states. An avid reader, Pauline enjoyed crocheting, working puzzles, playing Bridge and Euchre, bowling, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and dancing in Evansville during the War. She enjoyed baking cookies and pies, especially at Christmas. She lived in Mt. Summit from 1972 until moving to Fishers with her daughter and son-in-law in 2011.

Pauline was a truly wonderful Mother and loving Grandmother and Great Grandmother and will be dearly missed.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Janet (Steve) Barnett of Fishers; her son, Jim (Joyce) Burk of Noblesville; six grandchildren, Jeffrey (Sarah Scroggy) Burk of Stow, OH, Kathleen Burk (Bre Redmond) of Scottsdale, AZ, Meredith Carpenter (Dylan Carpenter) of Weilerbach, Germany, Benjamin Burk of Indianapolis, Brendan Donnelly of Los Angeles, and Alexander Donnelly of Indianapolis; three great grandchildren, Zoe Burk, Elias Carpenter and Emerson Carpenter; former daughter-in-law, Julie (Jason) Smith of Indianapolis; several nieces and nephews, including her special niece, Susan Williamson of Springport.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William “Bill” Burk and her second husband, Bob Beall; a son, Joseph P. Burk; and six siblings, Vera Grim, Bob, Ben, Jim, Mark,
and Jerry Mellinger.

Services will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Mark Herbkersman officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the
funeral home prior to the service. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Christian Cemetery in Springport.

Memorial contributions may be given to Riley Children’s Foundation or Tunnels to Towers. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.hinsey-brown.com