Corinne (Burditt) Brown was born on September 19, 1922 in Pomona, California, to Earl Daniel Burditt and Elizabeth Ann (King) Burditt.
She had two brothers who died before she was 10 years old, which made her an only child at a young age. Her childhood years were spent on her father's orange ranch in Riverside, California, where he built her a dirt tennis court and taught her to play. She spent many days with her best friends at the beaches of southern California and Catalina Island.
She attended Pomona College, receiving her B.A. in education in 1943. Corinne loved to dance. As a result, she met her future husband at a USO dance at March Air Force Base during World War II. Because of the war, her college graduation date was advanced to April instead of the usual June and the next day she married Forrest Lionel Brown on April 27, 1943. Forrest became a teacher and school administrator after the war and Corinne ultimately went back to school to earn her teaching credential too. They lived in the California cities of Alhambra, Greenfield, and Riverbank before settling permanently in Red Bluff in 1964 when Forrest became the assistant county schools superintendent. Corinne absolutely loved children, so she chose to teach kindergarten and remedial reading in the Red Bluff Elementary School District until her retirement in 1977. She and Forrest spent about 20 years building a house at Lake Almanor that became the central location for many family gatherings. Corinne loved to laugh, sing, travel, play the piano, sew, and played tennis well into her 60s. But mainly she loved to dance.
After Forrest passed away in 1990, Corinne met Frank Rais at the senior dances and they shared many years together dancing and traveling before Frank's death in 2005.
Corinne spent the last few years of her life being lovingly cared for at Willow Springs Alzheimer's Facility in Redding. She was a wonderful spouse, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mentor, colleague, and friend. She was beloved by all.
She is survived by her three children: Dennis Brown, Maureen (Monty) Stephens, and Randall Brown; her grandchildren: Travis (Angelina) Stephens, Robert Brown, Matt (Lynde) Stephens, Liz (Joe) Boitano, and Kendal (Henry) Tracy; her four great-grandchildren: Mckenzie Stephens, Ryan Boitano, Logan Stephens, and Inara Stephens.
Published in Daily News on Dec. 22, 2018.
For several weeks past news has come from Jacksonville, Florida, indicating that the Hon. Luther I. Burditt was slowly and steadily failing in strength. The end came at four o’clock Tuesday morning, and the fact that it was expected did not lessen the deep regret of his friends here. His daughters, Miss Sarah J. Burditt, and his granddaughter, Miss Maude Burditt, were with him, administering all possible care and comfort during his last illness.
Mr. Burditt was born at Duanesburg, Schenectady county, Dec. 26, 1810. When seven years old he came with his father to Cooperstown, where he remained for nearly his whole life. He began his education in the district school and afterwards by teaching and working on a farm earned enough to take a complete course at the Clinton Liberal Institute. In 1839 he opened a grocery store in this village, but two years later was obliged to suspend as a result of the credit system. Soon after this he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1844. He was very successful in the practice of his profession, and many of his cases are today cited as authority in the courts. Along with his practice he always did a large real estate business.
Mr. Burditt has filled many important offices during his long life of usefulness. For several years he was a School Inspector, and for a number of years represented his town on the Board of Supervisors. In 1885 he was a member of the Assembly from his district. Since 1862 he has been a director of the Second National bank of this village and for the last twenty-one years its vice-president. He was also one of the promoters of the C. & S. V. railroad and was chosen its first president. In politics he was always a Democrat. In his family he was a kind father and husband, and in the community a man of strength and worth.
Mr. Burditt was married in 1830 to Eliza, daughter of Caleb Clark, and it was granted to them to pass a long and pleasant life together, Mrs. Burditt passing away only a few years ago. Three children survive them, William Dean, Sarah Jane, and Mrs. James A. Lynes.
The remains left Jacksonville, Wednesday morning and are expected here this Friday noon.
William Dean Burditt obituary from the Utica Herald-Dispatch
W. Dean Burditt Dead at Cooperstown - Well Known Citizen Passed Away After a Long Illness – Popular in Utica
News was received in Utica to-day of the death at his home in Cooperstown of William Dean Burditt, one of the best known men in Central New York. Mr. Burditt was particularly well known in Utica, where he had visited often and had a great many friends. Mr. Burditt had been ill for nearly a year and had been confined to his bed since last August.
William Dean Burditt was born in Cooperstown January 8, 1848, son of Luther I. Burditt and Eliza Clark. The father was one of the best known lawyers of Otsego County. William Dean Burditt was a man of many interests. He engaged in the real estate business and was well versed with all affairs of Cooperstown. He was a Democrat and had held the office of town supervisor and on six different occasions served the village as president. He was formerly a director of the Second National Bank in Cooperstown and one of the trustees of the Lakewood Cemetery Association. He had also served as president of the Otsego Agricultural Society and he belonged to the Mohican Club and the Village Club. He was a member of Utica Lodge, No. 33, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Burditt was a man of geniality and knew how to make friends and hold them. His varied activities brought him in close relation with business men from outside of the village. At home he held a place of trust and esteem and his death removes a man who during his more active years was a factor in business and politics.
He was twice married, his second wife being Anna Eckstron, who survives. By his first wife he had the following children who survive: George M. Burditt of New York, Mrs. Merton Barnes of Rome and Jessie of Chicago. There are two grandchildren, Dean and Byron Burditt, and a sister, Mrs. James Lynes of Cooperstown.
The funeral will be held Saturday at 2 p. m. and the Rev. R. W. Dix of the M. E. Church will officiate.
Utica Herald-Dispatch
Utica, NY
Thursda y Evening, January 30, 1919
FultonHistory.com
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William Dean Burditt Obituary from The Otsego Farmer - Cooperstown NY
The death of William Dean Burditt occurred at his home on Delaware street at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon after a long illness of hardening of the arteries, complicated with liver and heart troubles. He had been confined to his bed since the 5th of August.
Mr. Burditt was for many years closely identified with the life of the village of Cooperstown in its business, political and social affairs and was widely known throughout this section of the State. He was the son of the late Luther I. Burditt, who was for many years one of Otsego county’s most prominent lawyers, and was born at the old Burditt homestead on Pioneer street, Cooperstown, January 8, 1848. He was educated in the Cooperstown school and at Hartwick Seminary. He was married June 1, 1870, to Fanny Miller, who was a daughter of one of the instructors at the Seminary and they made their home at that place for about ten years, after which they came to Cooperstown which has ever since been Mr. Burditt’s home. He was for many years engaged in the real estate business with which he combined farming and poultry raising in which he was always much interested.
Mr. Burditt was prominent in the affairs of the Democratic party and had the distinction of being six times elected president of the village of Cooperstown. He was also at one time supervisor of the town of Otsego. Among other offices which he held was that of president of Otsego county Agricultural society, director of the Second National Bank of Cooperstown, trustee of Lakewood Cemetery and member of the Board of Education. He was a member of the Village club, Mohican club and Utica lodge, No. 33, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Burditt was married a second time twelve years age to Miss Anna Marion Eckstron, who survives him. Other surviving relatives are his four children, Byron Burditt of Dallas, Texas; George M. Burditt of New York City; Mrs. Raymond Randolph of Chicago and Mrs. Merton Barnes of Rome, a sister Mrs. James Lynes of Cooperstown and four grandchildren, two of whom, Dean and Byron Burditt, had resided with their grandfather for some years.
The funeral will be held at the home Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the Rev. B. W. Dix of the Methodist Episcopal church officiating. A delegation from the Utica Lodge of Elks will attend. Burial in Lakewood cemetery.
The Otsego Farmer
Cooperstown, NY
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William Dean Burditt Obituary from the Richfield Springs Mercury
William Dean Burditt, one of the oldest native citizens of this village and a man well known in Central New York, died at his home here at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, after ill health of more than a year’s duration. Since August Mr. Burditt had been confined to his bed.
William Dean Burditt was born here January 8, 1848, son of Luther I. Burditt and Eliza Clark. The father was one of the best known lawyers of Otsego County. William Dean Burditt was a man of many interests. He engaged in the real estate business and was well versed in all affairs of Cooperstown. He was a Democrat and had held the office of town supervisor and on six different occasions served the village as president. He was formerly director of the Second National Bank and one of the trustees of the Lakewood Cemetery Association. He had also served as president of the Otsego County Agricultural Society and he belonged to the Mohican Club and the Village Club. He was a member of Utica Lodge No. 33, B. O. P. E., and was well know in that city. Mr. Burditt was a man of geniality and knew how to make friends and hold them.
Mrs. W. Dean Burditt
The death last Friday night at her home on Pioneer Street of Mrs. W. Dean Burditt caused sorrow among the many friends who had the privilege of knowing how estimable a woman she was.
The funeral services were held Monday, the Rev. J. H. Littell of the Methodist Church officiating. Interment was made in Lakewood Cemetery. Mrs. Burditt's maiden name was Frances Louise Miller and she was the daughter of George H. Miller and Ann E. Miller and the granddaughter of Dr. George B. Miller, a long time principal of Hartwick Seminary. She was born at the village bearing the latter name Aug. 11, 1848, and was married to Mr. Burditt June 2, 1870. They removed to this village in 1881 and since have been numbered among the best known and public spirited citizens of the town. Her entire life has been passed in the two places and in both of them many friends mourn deeply her death. She was a member of the Lutheran church at Hartwick Seminary and has been a true Christian woman in the fullest sense of the term.
She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Raymond M. Randolph of New York city and Mrs Merton Barnes of Cooperstown, and by two sons, Byron H. Burditt of New York and George M. Burditt of this village. The sons and sons-in-law by her request, carried the body to its resting place in beautiful Lakewood.
Mrs. Jessie Burditt Randolph
Cooperstown relatives have been informed of the death Monday in Chicago of Mrs. Jessie Burditt Randolph, widow of Raymond M. Randolph. She was ill only a few days with a heart ailment. Mrs. Randolph was the eldest daughter of the late William Dean Burditt and Fannie (Miller) Burditt of Cooperstown. She was born here August 23, 1872.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Merton Barnes, Rome; and a brother George M. Burditt, Chicago, Ill.; Dean Burditt of Cooperstown and Byron Burditt of Chicago are nephews; and Miss Eliza B. Lyons of Cooperstown is an own cousin. The husband, Raymond H. Randolph, met sudden death about four years ago when struck down by a bus in Chicago.
Mrs. Randolph left Cooperstown early in life and became an expert stenographer, and she held a number of very responsible positions during her career. She was held in highest esteem by a wide circle of friends.