Kendall Ross Burnham

Kendall Ross Burnham of Seagrove, age 67, died Sunday, February 8, 2015, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro. He was born September 9, 1947, in Morrisville, Vermont, to the late Gideon S. Burnham and Geraldine S. Burnham. Ken grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, in and around the town of Hardwick. He was an athlete in his youth, playing baseball, basketball, and soccer for the town and local schools, winning several state championships. Ken graduated from Hardwick Academy in 1965, and continued on to attend Paris Junior College (TX), the University of Florida, and Johnson State College (VT). Ken worked much of his life in insurance sales and as manager of shoe stores in Florida and Vermont. He transitioned to sports writing and was an award-winning writer for the Hardwick (VT) Gazette. Upon moving to Denver, Colorado, he worked as an assistant golf pro at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center Golf Course. Ken moved to North Carolina in 1995, settling in Seagrove, and ran a golf club components company, Streamline Golf, until his retirement. Ken was an avid golfer, dog lover, and diehard Boston Red Sox fan. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael, who passed away in February of 2014. Ken is survived by his wife of 24 years, Janet S. Burnham, of the home; his son, Joshua Burnham and wife, Julie, of Greensboro, NC; brother, Gideon S. Burnham and Barbara of Derby Line, Vermont; sister, Susan Burnham Burke, of Barton, Vermont; sister, Lori Shatney and husband, Alan, of Woodbury, Vermont; and brother, David Burnham and wife, Kathy, of Johnson, Vermont; as well as many nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 512 W. Wainman Avenue, Asheboro, NC on Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Seagrove Volunteer Fire Department, 281 East Main St., Seagrove, NC 27341.