STRAFFORD, VT — William A. Burden of Strafford, VT died on July 29, 2020 in Lebanon, NH at the age of 84 years. Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy J. (Bushnell) Burden of Strafford, their children, A. Laverne “Verne” Burden of Strafford, Barbara J. Carswell (husband William) of Charlottesville, VA and David E. Burden (wife Diane) of Unity, NH. He is also survived by their 4 grandchildren, Anthony E. Burden (wife Jordan) of Fitchburg, MA, Samantha Y. Cortese (husband Daniel) of Claremont, NH, William F. Carswell of Blacksburg, VA and Allison M. Carswell of Charlottesville, VA and one great-grandson, Ryker. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret A. “Peggy” Burden (partner Cat) of West Fairlee, VT and sister-in-law Marilyn E. Bushnell of Concord, NH.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William A. Burden and Dorothy M. (Fosdick) Burden, both of Nashua, NH.
Bill was born on February 28, 1936 in Nashua, NH and graduated from Alvirne HS in Hudson, NH in 1953. He started working at Sanders & Associates in Nashua in 1955. He then met Dot on a blind date and they were married in Islington, MA on May 5, 1956. He graduated from Lowell Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1971 and retired from Lockheed/Sanders in 1991. Bill and Dot moved to Strafford, VT where he was active in the United Church of Strafford, and amateur radio with the ARRL (WB1BRE-SK). He served as Emergency Management Director for the town of Strafford and was awarded the Strafford Citizen of the Year in 2018 by the Lions’ Club.
A future memorial service is being planned. Donations may be sent in his name to United Church of Strafford, 230 Justin Smith Morrill Hwy. Strafford Vt 05072, or The CROP Walk, www.crophungerwalk.org/fairleevt.
A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vermont.