BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—John R. Burkhard, a more than 40-year veteran of the rubber industry, died July 31 in Brentwood. He was 90.
Burkhard grew up in Ohio, served in the U.S. Air Force at the end of World War II, and later graduated from Dayton University.
He joined synthetic rubber producer Goodrich Gulf Co.—part of B.F. Goodrich—in 1951 as an account manager for synthetic elastomers and related chemicals, covering both East and West Coast accounts during his career. He later joined Ameripol Synpol with its acquisition of Goodrich assets.
Burkhard was active with the Los Angeles Rubber Group between 1970 and when he retired in 1992.
He is survived by daughters Linda, Christine, Catherine, and Bonnie; brother Michael Burkhard; and eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.