William G. Burgett
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William G. Burgett, 85, died on November 16, 2008, at home in Frewsburg, N.Y., after a long illness.
Bill was born Jan. 31, 1923, in Dorset, Ohio, to William D. and Myrtle Ken-nedy Gates Burgett. He gra-duated in 1941 from Dorset High School and began col-lege at Ohio State Universi-ty. The war interrupted college and he joined the Army in March 1943. He was sta-tioned in Fort Riley, Kan., where he managed to survive spinal meningitis and a tornado. He graduated from the Army Corps of Engineers ASTP program in St. Louis, Mo., where he married his first wife, Florence Jane Lawyer. He later worked on air-to-ground rocket research and the start of the V2 rocket in Dover, Del. and White Sands Proving Grounds, N.M. He was discharged in March 1946 and returned to Ohio State University, where he graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering in 1947.
He began his engineering career as a project engineer at Columbus McKinnon in North Tonawanda, N.Y., for 10 years. He was a senior research engineer at Chapin in Batavia and moved to Frewsburg in 1958. He worked for 10 years as a pro-ject engineer at MRC and three years at Micro Line be-fore becoming general manager of Jamestown Malleable Iron Division and research and development coordinator of Blackstone Corp. After 10 years, he re-tired from his position as chief engineer from Falconer Glass in 1985. He was the owner of Pine Bluff Mobile Home Park in Kennedy since 1978.
He served as past president of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Chapter, and was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, F&AM Carroll Lodge 1147, Ismalia Temple, National Association of Accountants and the Jamestown Rotary Club. He had also served on the Carroll Planning Board, where he met his second wife, June.
Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman and was happiest outdoors, preferably in a tree. He loved golfing and traveling. He retained his lifelong allegiance to the OSU football team, the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns.
He is survived by his second wife, June, his four daughters: Linda B. Thomas (Wayne) of Vermontville, N.Y., Toni L. Stone (Edward) of Frewsburg, Dale M. Buschamnn of North Palm Beach, Fla., and Wilma M. Farrington (Jeff Peterson) of Kennedy; two step-grandchildren, Claudia Crandell of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Dennis Richards (Susan) of Frewsburg, five grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, 15 step-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence, who died on the same date, November 16, 1991; his brother, Lester Burgett, and sister, Ellen Kaipainen, and his son-in-law, Franz J. Buschmann.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Peter-son Funeral Home, 12 Pearl St., Frewsburg. Cathy Basile, Hospice Chautauqua County chaplain, will officiate. Burial will be in the Ivory Cemetery, Frewsburg.
Friends will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the fun-eral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Hos-pice of Chautauqua County, 4840 W. Lake Road, Mayville NY 14757; the Chau-tauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown NY 14701; or a charity of one's choice.
