Melvin Benjamin "Rabbit" Burba passed from this life on December 29, 2020 at his home in Woodward, Oklahoma. Rabbit was born on February 21, 1928 in Lenora, Ok. The only son of Benjamin August "Jack"and mother Rosie Belle (Gee) Burba, he was adored by his sisters, Marie, Virginia and Bertha who he loved to tease.  After several stops and starts at Camargo Public School he finally did graduate and was Senior class president and enjoyed telling everyone in later years that when he was a Sr. in High School he was also the bus driver. In January 1951, he served in the US Army, during the Korean War, being honorably discharged in January 1953.  On August 29, 1953, Rabbit married the love of his life, Margie Jo Helm, in Clayton, New Mexico. Following this, the couple moved to California where they resided until 1964. During this time, they had a son Randy Dale, and a daughter Lori Dawn. They then returned to Oklahoma to be with family. Rabbit worked in several jobs before going into the construction business a vocation he shared with his son, Randy. He loved to tinker in his shop, one of his greatest joys rebuilding a 1960 Ford truck with his son-in-law Steve. He enjoyed being active in the community attending ballgames and events, he also loved to go dancing with his friends; always with a joke to tell or a prank to pull. He was a part of so many lives always offering help when needed, to so many who called him friend.

Rabbit was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Rosie Burba; his wife Margie, son Randy Burba and wife Shawna; Grandson, Shane Kinsey:  sister Marie Moss husband Wesley; and sister Bertha Balfour and husband Paul; brother-in-law Francis "Smiley" Damon:  and very special friend Marvin Hunt.

Rabbit is survived by his daughter Dawn and husband Stephen Kinsey of Woodward, OK; sister Virginia Damon of Seiling, OK; foster daughter Connie Touchstone of Vici: grandchildren Kyle Kinsey, Cody Kinsey, Jeremey Burba and Ashley Johnson and numerous great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and a host o f loved ones and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Vici Fire Department in care of Shaw Funeral Home, P.O. Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.