Claude Burnham, at the age of 79, of Shady Cove, OR, passed away on Oct. 5, 2007, at the Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford, OR.
Claude was born Nov. 27, 1927 in Kalamazoo, MI, to Claude A. Burnham & Dorothy Randell. He was a veteran of the Army Air Force.
In the 1950’s, he moved to Hollister. There he married Twyla Sue Anderson on July 3, 1959, who passed away on Oct. 1, 2004. They had three children. He worked in quality assurance in the aerospace industry, including 15 years as an Executive Director in Controlled Explosives.
On Mar. 29, 1986, in Hayward, CA, he married Lou Dudley, who survives. After retirement, he & his wife traveled for seven years, during which time he became a wood carver and then a sculptor. The Tucson, AZ newspaper described him as the “Grandpa Moses of the sculpting world,” having turned to it at the age of 70. The couple moved to Shady Cove in 2001.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Mike & his wife Bobbie Burnham of Hollister; his two daughters, Claudia & her husband Tim Williams of Hollister and Joelle & her husband Mark Rose of San Jose; he has one brother, Richard Burnham of Kalamazoo, MI; his two step-sons, Allen & his wife Cheryl Quail of Shady Cove, OR and David & his wife Debbie Olson of Portland, OR; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild – Leah, Rafe & Riley Burnham; Jared & his wife Brandy DeWitt & their son, Jared Thomas; Emily, Nathaniel & Alyssa Rose.
At his request, there will be no service. Condolences may be mailed to: P.O. Box 3319, Santa Clara, CA 95055.
