Raymond W. Burdick, 91
FLORIDA, Mass. — Raymond Walter Burdick, 91, of the town of Florida died Friday, October 21, 2016, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Hoosac Tunnel, Mass., on August 20, 1925, a son to the late Charles Walter and Emma (Perra) Burdick. He attended local schools and graduated from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls in 1940. He was a decorated veteran of WWII, serving with the US Army Air Corp. as corporal in China, Burma and India.
Mr. Burdick started his career as a truck driver for Texaco. He later was a shipping manager at Windsor Mills. At the time of his death, at the age of 91, he was still employed working as a sales manager for St. Ann’s Transportation.
He was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Mr. Burdick will best be remembered as a community and civic leader for the town of Florida and the surrounding communities. He was the former Florida Town treasurer, a member of the cemetery commission, a town selectman and a member of the Florida Board of Health. He also was the first chairman of the Northern Berkshire Redevelopment Corporation, past president of Berkshire County Traffic Association as well as past president of the Capital District Traffic Association. He was a lifetime member and past finance officer of Frank R. Stiles American Legion Post 125 in North Adams.
Mr. Burdick was the widower of his first wife, Gertrude Hanlon, whom he married on August 24, 1946. She died on August 20, 1984. He later married his wife, Linda Cimonetti Kelley, on June 5, 1987.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; a daughter, Ruth Ellen Berninger and her husband Steven of Niverville, N.Y.; two sons, Wesley Burdick of Pownal, Vt., and Eric Burdick of Florida, Mass.; four grandchildren, Scott Sherman, Matthew Burdick and his wife Christina, Bridget Stroh and her husband Christopher, and Michael Berninger; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Alice Meranti of North Adams and Mildred “Millie” Hunkler and her husband Stewart of Drury, Mass.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Barbara Przedpelski, who died on June 1, 2015.
Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Raymond Walter Burdick will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2016, at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in North Adams. Burial will follow with military honors in the Florida Church Cemetery, Florida.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Flynn and Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapel, 521 West Main Street, North Adams. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Conference or the charity of the donor’s choice through the funeral home.
Obituary Provided By: Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals