Obituaries Feb. 23

D. Arvin Burlingame

D. Arvin Burlingame, a former resident of Colfax, died in Kirkland, Wash., Dec. 28, 2016, after an extended illness. A memorial service will be on Bainbridge Island in the spring.

Born in Priest River, Idaho, May 10, 1930, to Calvin and Anna Baker Burlingame, he spent most of his childhood in Colfax where the Burlingame family had homesteaded. He was a member of the 1949 class of Colfax High School. He played football at Colfax and in his senior year was voted the most inspirational player by his teammates. He was offered a football scholarship at Washington State College, but after turning out for a few practices decided that wasn’t for him, got a job bussing tables and earned his way for a degree in mechanical engineering.

In addition to working and studying, he served as sergeant first class in the Army National Guard. Following graduation, he married Flora Elizabeth Beach, and they moved to southern California where he worked for Bethlehem Steel as a plant engineer.

Raising his family in Temple City, Calif., he was very supportive of his children’s activities and used his mechanical skills to assist youth organizations to build floats for the annual Camellia parade.

He guided his son on how to design prize-winning Pinewood Derby cars for Cub Scouts.

When his children were in high school he served as president of the Band Boosters and was honored by that group for his many volunteer hours in the various fundraising food booths during sports and other events.

He was also a foster dad to two boys.

He enjoyed camping with his family and built a boat for fishing off the California coast.

A member of the San Gabriel Civic Light Opera Guild, he assisted at the Intermission Club wherever his expertise was needed.

After retiring in 1992, he and his wife moved to Mariposa, Calif., where he was active as a docent at the Mariposa Museum and History Center and served on the counting committee for the United Methodist Church. He collected antique Caterpillar tractors and spent many hours tending to a vegetable garden. A creative cook, he made relishes from zucchini and tomatillos and won ribbons at the Mariposa County Fair for his bread and wild blackberry liqueurs. In January of 2016, health problems necessitated a move to be near family members in Washington state.

Arvin is survived by his wife, Flora, his three children: Karen Atwater (John), Donna Harris (Ken), Glen Burlingame (Lisa), foster son Steve Huddleston (Becca); a brother, Dean Burlingame, Colfax; sisters, Ila Baltrusch of College Place, Wash., and Lee Thomas of La Quinta, Calif., and six grandchildren.

For paid obituaries, see Weekly Pages: Feb. 23

Elizabeth L. "Betty" Bird-Bircher: Sept. 29, 1934-Feb. 18, 2017

Carl William Ruhs: Feb. 2, 1921-Dec. 6, 2016

Janiece J. Anderson: Dec. 29, 1940-Feb. 18, 2017

Julie Lynn (McKay) Geronda: Nov. 29, 1963-Feb. 2, 2017