Mrs. Jeanne Burlingame

Lillian Jeanne Burlingame, 91, passed away February 20, 2017 surrounded by family at her home in Alpharetta, Georgia. Jeanne, as she preferred to be called, was born September 9, 1925, in Butler Township, Butler, Pennsylvania, the youngest of two daughters to Reuben and Eleanor Waldron. The family moved to Santa Ana, California, in 1937 where she later graduated from Santa Ana High School. During her senior year while attending a DeMolay dance, she was introduced to a young college gentleman, Gordon Burlingame. On January 25, 1943, Jeanne and Gordon were married in Virginia shortly before Gordon left for England as a fighter pilot during WWII. After the war, the couple returned to Southern California where they raised their three children. When the children were young, Jeanne was very active with the PTA, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed camping and fishing with the family, and she loved to dance; in their younger years she and Gordon were avid square dancers. Always compassionate towards others, she took great satisfaction and enjoyment working as a teacher’s aide with special needs children at Canyon Hills School in Anaheim, California. Jeanne and Gordon moved to Georgia after retirement. They were members of Covenant Presbyterian Church where Jeanne served as an Elder. Her love and devotion to family and friends was always evident in everything she did; she loved to cook and entertain, hosting lunch or dinner parties, or simply taking a meal to someone in need. Her other interests included traveling, reading, playing cards and board games (especially Canasta & Bingo), music and playing the organ, shopping and anything chocolate! As part of Friendship Force of Atlanta, she and Gordon traveled extensively to other countries, as well as hosting members of Friendship Force from abroad. Two memorable events in her life were watching the Hidenburg fly over the beach at Atlanta City, N.J. when she was eleven, and meeting Howard Hughes while working on the assembly line at Hughes Aircraft. Jeanne is survived by a son, Terry Burlingame (wife Teenie MacLeod); daughter, Janet Curtis; daughter Nancy Mode (husband David Mode); grandchildren Ross and Lee Burlingame and Candi Curtis Earley; great grandchildren Stella and Mia Earley. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gordon and sister Helen Zornes. Visitation will be held at Northside Chapel Funeral Directors on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 between the hours of 2:00pm and 4:00pm. A private family graveside service will take place at Green Lawn Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 2:00pm.

Mrs. Jeanne Burlingame

September 9, 1925 - February 20, 2017