Willard "Bill" H. Burnham

Willard “Bill” Burnham, 93, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on September 15th.
Bill was born in Worcester, MA on December 28, 1928, to the late Arthur and Lillian (MacNeil) Burnham. He was the youngest of 6 siblings, all predeceased; Lester, Toody, Helen (Johnson), Cora and Charlie. He grew up mostly in Holden and lived there the rest of his life with the love of his life, Margaret “Peggy” (Daley) who passed on in August 2021.
He worked at Norton Company for over 50 years and was in the Air Force Reserve in the early 1950s. He was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL where he began his married life and had his first child. He always loved airplanes and made model airplanes up until his passing.
Bill loved being outdoors and being active. When his children were young, he taught them (and their friends) how to play softball, took them skating and built the best toboggan runs in town! He and Peggy attended every cheerleading and sports event their children participated in, and, eventually, the events their great-grandchildren participated in. He even took up cross-country skiing with his daughters and their husbands!
He enjoyed simple pleasures – taking a walk with his family on a Sunday afternoon, playing football in the yard on Thanksgiving and taking camping trips…exploring the eastern half of the US, and especially, Civil War battlefields. He and Peggy enjoyed the February weeks they spent in Madeira Beach, FL.
He eventually joined the North-South Skirmish Association. He and Peggy traveled around the northeast and Virginia participating in skirmishes/target shooting events and developed long-lasting friendships.
In later years, he enjoyed playing volleyball and softball with the Senior Leagues.
He and Peggy loved family gatherings where he could play croquet, bocce, volleyball or badminton and enjoy the company of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren…and the food!
He and Peggy took in many strays…people and dogs. If someone needed a place to stay, they were welcomed. But – the dogs! A constant stream of stray dogs wandered into their lives at just the right time and were welcomed with much love.
Bill will be missed by many. We will miss our phone calls and visits, dinners at O’Connor’s, ice cream at Rota Farm and reminiscing about a life well-lived and loved.
He is survived by his children, Wendy Sullivan of Port Charlotte, FL; Cheryl (Steve) McRell of Sterling; Debra Saucier of Shrewsbury and Scott of Holden and his grandchildren/great-grandchildren, Emily (McRell) Patten of Denver, CO; Kevin and Sarah McRell – Carter, Daisy, Cora, Pearl, and Ivy of Holden; Keith and Alyson McRell – Peyton, Hunter and Brett of Norfolk; Derek and Jess Saucier of Milford, NH; Laura Saucier of Shrewsbury. He is predeceased by his grandson, Brett Saucier and son-in-law, Rick Sullivan. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including David Burnham, Elaine MacNutt and Linda Mallquist.
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend a memorial service honoring and celebrating Willard’s life at 12 noon on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury St., Holden. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to New England Bassett Hound Rescue, NEBHR, P.O. Box 321, Rutland, MA 01543. Services are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.