Richard M. Burrill

1921 – 2010

AUGUSTA — Richard Moore Burrill, 88, of Manchester and Wayne, passed on March 17, in his sleep quietly and without pain at Togus, VA, after a brief stay there.

He was born July 14, 1921, in Livermore Falls.

Dick was employed by General Electric Co. for 37 years as an application engineer and sales engineer, where he spent 15 years in the Boston office before coming back to Maine as the sales manager in Augusta. He retired in 1984, and spent many winters in Venice, Fla. He attended high schools in Dexter, Turners Falls, Mass., and Deerfield Academy, where he played football and was a member of the choir.

He was called to active duty during World War II from the University of Maine, Orono, where he was enrolled in the ROTC program. He was a graduate of officer’s candidate school in Fort Benning, Ga., after which he served as Army Infantry Troop leader at Fort Jackson, S.C., and Fort Riley, Kan.

As World War II was ending, he became an OCC Qualified paratrooper and served as an advisor in the Chinese Airborne Commando Battalion of the Chinese Nationalist Army. He graduated with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine as the Class of 1944, when he returned from the war in 1947.

While at UMaine, he was vice president of Kappa Sigma and captain of the Black Bear’s football team. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to sing and spent many years involved in the choir at several churches he belonged to.

He was a registered professional engineer and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was a member of the Augusta Country Club and the Manchester Community Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Virginia E. Burrill; his son, W. Scott Burrill and wife, Linda, of Chelsea; his daughter, Cynthia Burrill Phillips and husband, Robert, of Wayne; and his beloved grandchildren, Baylee Jeanne Phillips and Richard M. Phillips, who were the light of his life.

A special thank-you to his caregiver and “buddy,” Wendy Ferguson, who provided him with years of loving care and friendship, and also to the VA Patriot Place and Hospice for outstanding respectful, dignified care during his brief stay.

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