SOUTH PORTLAND — Edward James Burke, 90, of South Portland, died Feb. 2 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.
He was born in Springfield, Mass., Sept. 23, 1922, the son of John and Carrie Burke.
He grew up in the Portland area and attended Portland schools. From 1941 to 1945 he served proudly in the U.S. Army Air Corps, an early incarnation of the U.S. Air Force. During World War II, he served in the Burma-China theater as a tech sergeant.
Burke married his wife, Mildred O’Donnell, on Jan. 28, 1946. He worked for EG Foden Co. in Portland from 1946 to 1966, Ametek Co. from 1966 to 1970, and Commercial Distributors from 1970 until he retired in 1984. After his retirement he volunteered for five years with Meals On Wheels. Burke was also a faithful communicant of Holy Cross Church in South Portland.
In addition to his parents, Burke is predeceased by his daughter, Elizabeth Burke; a brother, Wendall Burke; and two sisters, Dorothy Acker and Laura Geissler.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mildred Burke; two daughters, Carolyn Lane of Augusta, and Diane Bonville and her partner Mark Cronkite of South Portland; seven grandchidren, Brian Spencer of South Portland, Todd Rutherford of South Portland, Alison Rutherford Martin and husband Miguel of Midlothian, Va., Tressa King-Libby and husband Chuck Libby of South Portland, Alan Bonville and partner Jesica Childs of South Portland, Amanda Griffin of Augusta, and Adam Bonville and partner Brittni Wishart of Saco; 16 great-grandchildren, Jenna, Zachary and Degan Weitzell of Augusta, Lucas Griffin, Jr. of Augusta, William, Jack and Katie Martin of Midlothian, Va., Justin King of South Portland, Josh, Jonny, Joey and Nick Libby of South Portland, Adrienne Childs of Old Orchard Beach, Eli and Emily Bonville of South Portland, and Arabelle Bonville of Saco; and nephew Gary Lawsure and wife Carolyn of Scarborough.
A Mass of Christian burial was held Feb. 7 at Holy Cross Church in South Portland, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Burke’s honor may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of South Portland.
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