AUBURN — Burleigh Leroy Edwards, 95, of Lewiston passed away at Clover Manor on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Burleigh was born in Livermore Falls on June 23, 1922, the youngest son of the late Claude and Doris (Knowlton) Edwards. He lived in Livermore Falls until graduating from Livermore Falls High School in 1940, where he was the class president. He was a member of the Eaton Memorial Methodist Church.

After graduation, he went to Burdette Business College in Boston, majoring in accounting. Upon graduation, he was deferred from the military draft and worked at Continental Baking Company until he reported for duty on Dec. 17. He went to Fort Sheridan in Illinois for basic training, followed by training for anti-aircraft artillery. As a member of the 476th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, semi-mobile, he received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism on Biak Island.

He returned home in January 1946, and rejoined Continental Bakery Co., eventually becoming office manager at Wonder Bread Bakery. He married Anne Slamin in May 1946, and bought a home in Fairhaven, Mass. Upon the closing of the bakery in New Bedford, Burleigh became office manager at Hoyt Manufacturing Corp. in Westport, where he worked for 23 years, until retiring. Burleigh and Anne loved taking cruises and traveled extensively during their marriage. During a recent discussion Burleigh let it be known that his favorite cruise destination was Aruba.

During retirement, he went to work for Building 19 repairing furniture. He worked there for 13 years, until he turned 80. In 2002, Burleigh and Anne moved to Auburn, Maine, to be closer to his family.

Burleigh became an active member of the United Methodist Church of Auburn, and a member of an informal men’s coffee club. He served on the board of Granite Mills Estate Condominium Association, where he lived. In late 2017, Burleigh had moved to Montello Heights Assisted Living Center in Lewiston prior to becoming a resident of Clover Manor in early 2018.

Burleigh is survived by his cousins: Glendon Winton of Portland, Gloria Hall and her husband, Quentin, of Auburn; their daughters Karen Shaw and her fiancé, Alden Partridge, Jr. of Kenduskeag; Sharon Labonte and her husband, Paul, of Scarborough; and the rest of the extended family. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Anne, and his brothers Richard and Dana.

The family would like to thank Clover Manor and Androscoggin Home Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

Condolences may be shared with Burleigh’s family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

Burleigh Leroy Edwards