WOOSTER “ Burk A. Dehority, 85, of Wooster passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster.
He was born September 3, 1930, the son of Harry and Marie Burk Dehority.   He married Sandra Sigler on November 27, 1987.   She survives.
He was a Professor at The Ohio State University at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center for over 50 years in the Animal Science Department specializing in Rumen Microbiology.   Burk was a member of the First Church of God.   He enjoyed traveling, fishing, raising African Violets and painting.   Burk was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
An expert in rumen and gastrointestinal microbiology, Burk had worked with scientists around the world to identify and study the microbes that live in herbivores.   During the course of his career he had described and named 21 new species and had two species named after him.   He authored or co-authored 170 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 book chapters, and two books.   Burk advised 14 master ™s degree students and 10 doctoral students while also attracting many postdoctoral and visiting scientists to his lab.   He also served on the editorial board for Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
After earning his B.S. in Chemistry from Blackburn College in 1952 and his M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Maine in 1954, Burk came to Ohio State to complete his Ph.D. in Agricultural Biochemistry.   After graduating from Ohio State, Burk served as an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut before returning to OSU as an assistant professor at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station in 1959.   Burk advanced to associate professor in 1964 and in 1970 he joined the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) as a professor.
Burk was a 2008 recipient of the OARDC ™s Distinguished Senior Faculty Research Award presented at their Annual Research Conference.   He received the Department of Animal Sciences Research Award in 2000 and Ohio State ™s Gamma Sigma Delta Award in 1978.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Katherine Graham of Wooster, Christine (Craig) Gates of Spokane, Washington, Sue Ellen Dehority of Upper Arlington, Burk J. (Monique) Dehority of Dublin; step-children, Shelly (Brent) Coe-Skelton of Nashville, Tennessee and Brian Coe of Wooster.
His grandchildren, Brian (Devika) Gates, Steve Gates, Elizabeth Graham, Kathleen Finneran, John Graham, Mark Finneran, Emma Dehority and Ethan Dehority, step-grandson, Tristan Skelton and great-grandchildren, Naya Gates and Arjun Gates.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Barbara Stake Dehority on September 4, 1984 whom he married July 5, 1953.
Friends will be received on Sunday, February 14, 2016 from 3-6:00 p.m. at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster and 1 hour prior to the time of the service at the church.
Services will be held on Monday, February 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church of God, 1953 Akron Road, Wooster with the Rev. Arnie Kaufman officiating.   Burial will follow in the Wooster Cemetery.
Those who wish may make contributions to LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Otyokwah Shower Fund, c/o First Church of God, 1953 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
 
 

Memorial Contributions
LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Otyokwah Shower Fund, c/o First Church of God, 1953 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

Service
Monday, February 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church of God, 1953 Akron Road, Wooster.

Visitation
Sunday, February 14, 2016 from 3-6:00 p.m. at the funeral home and 1 hour prior to the time of the service at the First Church of God.