Stan Burge

Stan Burge passed from this life on Wednesday morning, November 19, 2025. A visitation will be held at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola on Tuesday, November 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 26, at the Merkel Church of Christ at 9:00 am with a burial to follow at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 11:00 am.

Technical Sergeant Earl Standfield "Stan" Burge, USAF (Retired), age 86, of Merkel, Texas, was called home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 19, 2025, after a years-long battle with the long-term effects of exposure to Agent Orange. Stan was born in Grove Hill, Alabama, on October 30, 1939, the eldest of the four children to the late Earl C. and Jane Jones Burge. The family made several work-related moves during his childhood before settling in Victoria, TX, where he attended junior high and high school, graduating from Victoria High School in 1958.

He began his 20-year Air Force Career in 1959. He was a weapons mechanic whose job was to maintain and load the weapons and munitions used on combat aircraft. For most of his career, he dealt with fighters, but in his last assignment, he maintained and loaded weapons on bombers. He deployed to many parts of the world during his career, including two tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. His first tour was in Vietnam, and his second was in Thailand.

Always a man of faith, he began attending classes at Abilene Christian University before he retired from the Air Force. He graduated from ACU with a degree in theology. He had been a part-time lay minister before retiring, but began full-time ministry after his graduation and ordination. Stan believed he was called minister to those most in need of exposure to the word of God, so he continued his jail ministry now on a full-time basis. He was the Taylor County jail minister for a number of years, as well as occasionally ministering in the TDC unit in Abilene. He believed his background, experience, and maturity made him more effective. His "congregation" soon discovered that the game of "shock the preacher" didn't work on a preacher who had been to the places he'd been and seen the things he'd seen.

After retiring from ministry, he was able to devote more time to his hobbies. He loved carving walking sticks and embellishing them with numerous details. Each was unique, the result of many hours spent on each one. He sold a few and gave any away. He also built a few wooden doll houses, each furnished with intricately designed furniture that he also built.

He was an avid reader as well as an avid storyteller. Whether it was the word of God, about his woodworking, or the fastest car in the world, the Datsun 260Z. Stan loved history, especially Texas and Alabama history, because it meshed with his interest in genealogy and family history.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife Irene Misunas Burge, and a daughter, Sharon Elizabeth "Shari" Burge. Survivors include two brothers and a sister: Pruett Burge of Warner Robins, Georgia; Andy Burge (Deborah) of Comfort, Texas; and Janell Burge Schultz (David) of Spring, Texas. He is also survived by his children, Janell Burge (Mike Fresquez), Denver, Colorado; Anne Burge Bivens (Bud), Firestone, Colorado; Jami Frandrup, Abilene, Texas; Sara Chavarria, Abilene, Texas; and Sean Burge, Abilene, Texas. He also survived by 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.