Terry Darnell Burt, Sr. affectionately known as “Pop”, was born on September 4, 1952 to the union of Virginia (Williams) Burt and Johnnie Burt, Sr. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He departed this life on his “Last Run” on July 17, 2023.

Terry graduated from Central High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1971. He always held his time as a Central Tiger close to his heart. His children would joke that he was born at Central. Terry would talk fondly of friends who would become like family over the next decades of his life, always enjoying a laugh and smile after running into them during errands and reminiscing at their high school reunions.

Terry earned a Bachelor of Arts - Political Science degree from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1976. While at IU, he became a member of the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1973 where he was #7 on his line. Later, he was honored to serve as Polemarch of his beloved Alpha Chapter.

Terry broke the color barrier as a member of the first minority recruitment class of the Fort Wayne Fire Department in December 1983. He climbed the ladder to the ranks of Lieutenant in July 1988 and Captain in September 1995. After 32 years of meritorious service, he hung his boots up for the last time and retired in January 2016. Over the years, he served at Stations 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 12 and lastly 18. In addition, Terry was a hero, on and off the truck. A big man with a generous heart and an even more glorious mustache, he was always willing to offer help when a crisis arose.

Terry was also a true “Renaissance Man''. He was a lifelong learner and avid reader; books and knowledge were always precious to him. He passed that love on to his children, nieces, and nephews and was a lifelong patron of the Allen County Public Library. Terry was a jazz enthusiast (especially Coltrane), cyclist, political junkie, traveler and jokester.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving children, twins Tara Burt (Brooklyn, NY) and Terry Burt, Jr. (Fort Wayne, IN), and Amanda Chambers-Burt (Brooklyn, NY). He is also survived by his mother Virginia Burt-Taylor, his siblings, Willie Dean Wyatt (Elbert), Dr. John Burt, Jr. (Cynthia), Gregory Burt, Sharon Burt, Anthony Burt (Frances), Gary Burt and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.