Pliny Burrows

BRATTLEBORO -- Pliny Norman Burrows, 81, of 66 Green Meadow, died early Thursday morning, Sept. 2, 2004, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.

Mr. Burrows was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 20, 1923, the son of Pliny Warner and Lucy (Weatherhead) Burrows.

He was raised in Vernon, attending grades one through eight at North Vernon School. He later attended Brattleboro High School, graduating with the class of 1941. He had been a resident of Vernon until 1942.

He was a veteran of World War II, entering active service on March 18, 1943. Mr. Burrows served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (9th Air Force), stationed in the European Theater and serving in England, France and Germany.

During his youth, he enjoyed playing the violin and was concert master for the Pioneer Valley Youth Orchestra and was one of the original members of the Pioneer Valley Symphony.

Following his honorary discharge from active service on Dec. 22, 1945, he returned home and joined the Springfield (Mass.) Symphony orchestra where he studied violin with Alexander Leslie.

Soon after, he joined his father in his business on Elliot Street, P.W. Burrows & Sons Tobacco Dealers.

On April 29, 1950, at Centre Congregational Church, he was married to Frances LaClair, who survives.

With his wife, Mr. Burrows established Burrows Sport Shop at 97 Main St. He enjoyed the day-to-day contact with his customers and missed seeing them after he retired in 1994.

Following his retirement, he continued to work on a part-time basis, making deliveries for Taylor For Flowers.

Mr. Burrows was a member of the American Legion, Brattleboro Post 5 where he served as Post Commander in 1950. He also held membership in the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034.

He was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499, was a member of Brattleboro Lodge 102 F&AM, Cairo Shrine Temple in Rutland, and the Brattleboro Outing Club. He was a former member and past president of the Brattleboro Kiwanis Club.

Burrows was a longtime member and volunteer of the Brattleboro Fire Department, recently retiring from the department after 60 years of service.

Active civically, Mr. Burrows was an original Town Meeting representative, was a trustee of the Holton Home and served on the Brattleboro Recreation Department Board.

For many years, he was a Brattleboro Justice of the Peace.

In June 2002, he was the recipient of the Brattleboro Savings & Loan Community Person Award.

Mr. Burrows served on the Board of Civil Authority and was active for many years with the Brattleboro Winter Carnaval, serving as president in 1960.

One of his greatest pleasures was serving as a director of the Brattleboro Savings & Loan for 42 years. He served as chairman of the board for approximately eight years and saw the bank move from its location in the former town clerk's office on Elliot Street to the new facility today, located on Main Street.

While a merchant, he was involved in establishing the downtown business district's first parking lots, as well as the Harmony and Bradley lots.

With his wife, he was a longtime member of Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro.

His many interests included hunting, fishing, skiing, antiquing and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed reading, especially military history.

A faithful and devoted husband and loving father, he adored his children and grandchildren, and loved animals, particularly those at the Thurber Farm in West Brattleboro.

Besides his wife of 54 years, he leaves two daughters, Anne B. Gragen and her husband, Kevin, of Brattleboro, Lynn B. Sullivan and her husband, James, of Riverside, Ill.; four granddaughters, Courtney Miller and Margaret, Katherine and Amy Sullivan; one grandson, Ryan Miller; a brother, Richard Burrows of Shelburne Falls, Mass., one sister, Marilyn P. Burrows of Bradenton, Fla., and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, William Burrows and John Burrows.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 3 p.m. at Centre Congregational Church on Main Street with the Rev. Fred Edmonds, pastor, officiating.

Private committal service with full military honors will precede the services on Sunday in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.

Friends are invited to call at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Burrows' name may be made to: Brattleboro Fire Department Benefit Association, 103 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Holton Home, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT. 05301, in care of Cindy Jerome.

Arrangements are under the direction of the ATAMANIUK FUNERAL HOME.u