Charles A. Burlingame

May 13, 1920 ~ February 12, 2011
Charles A. Burlingame Charles A. Burlingame, 90, passed away at 2:55 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Sugar Creek Station, where he and his wife resided. Born May 13, 1920, in Spartansburg, PA, Charles was the son of the late Wilis and Bertha Wallace Burlingame. He married the former Ila Friggle-Bates on June 15, 1947 and she survives. Charles was a WWII Army Veteran, having served in the Pacific, and he was called back to active duty during the Korean War. He worked as a foreman for Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company prior to his retirement. Charles was a member of the Cooperstown Presbyterian Church, where he was actively involved. He was Treasurer, Sunday School Teacher, and held multiple positions within the church. Charles was also a member of the Sugarcreek Grange. He was a very active community member. He was a school bus driver, a volunteer fireman, an assistant mail carrier, a dairy farmer, a Valley Grove School Board member, a manager at Whitmer's Nursery, and "jack-of-all-trades". Charles loved the computer and stayed in touch with his numerous family and friends. He was an avid reader, loved horses , farming and gardening. In addition to his wife, Charles is survived by his children, Jon Burlingame and his wife, Debbie, of Tavares, Florida, James Bates and his wife, Loretta, of The Villages, Florida, and Jayne Russell and her husband, Joe, of North East, PA; his grandchildren, Megan O'Brien and her husband, Brandon, of Bethlehem, Georgia, Mandy Fernandes and her husband, Yanis, of Mandeville, Louisiana, Joe Russell and his wife, Nicole, of Clifton Park, New York, Jason Bates of Media, PA, and Jeff Bates and his wife, Sheila, of Winter Haven, Florida; and his nine great-grandchildren. Additionally, Charles is survived by his sisters, Ida Shambaugh of Spartansburg and Lois Lawson of Corry; his sister-in-law, Edna Myers of Sebring, Ohio; and his foster child, Sue Zimmerman-Peterson of Newville, PA. In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his brothers, Harlan, Wilison and Henry Burlingame; and his sisters, Edna Devlin, Lulu Upton and Margaret Snapp. Funeral services for Charles will be held on Thursday, February 17 at 11 a.m. at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, with Rev. Joseph P. Martin, Jr., pastor of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard. Interment will follow in Cooperstown Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Cooperstown Library, 182 N. Main Street, Cooperstown, PA 16317 and/or the Cooperstown Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 163, Cooperstown, PA 16317. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
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