Paul Shelby Burdett

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 17 Jun 1946, Hornell, Steuben County, New York; US Army Air Corps Finance Dept. Discharged Jun 1949

Notes:

Nunda, N.Y. - Paul S. Burdett of Nunda, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday (Oct. 20, 2010). He was born May 24, 1928 in Hornellsville, the fourth child of Joel D. Burdett and Polly Allen Burdett. He graduated from Alfred Almond Central School, attended Cornell University and served his country in the Army Air Corps for three years. He married Betty J. Franklin on June 26, 1949 in Bowie, Texas. They were married 61 years. Paul worked for N.Y.S.E.G. for 37 years, retiring in 1988 as East Central area manager for customer service. He was active in church and community affairs for many years. He was an ordained elder in the Reformed Church in Chatham, and the Otego Presbyterian Church in Otego. Along with his wife, Betty, he served as youth leader for jr. and sr. highs in Chatham. For many years he taught electric programs to 4-H clubs. He was president of the Oneonta Rotary Club, the Oneonta Chamber of Commerce and Central N.Y. Heart Assoc. He was a member of the Board of Directors of A.O. Fox Hosp. for many years and served as chairman of the board for one term and co-chair of a multi-million dollar campaign to build an addition onto the hospital.
Paul's enthusiasm for Rotary led his co-workers to christen him "Mr. Rotary." He exemplified the Rotary motto, "service above self."
After retiring and returning to Western New York, Paul served as president of the Nunda Rotary Club, delivered food for the community food pantry and was on the founding committee of the Livingston County Habitat for Humanity.
Paul was an expert woodworker and loved working on his various homes, building furniture and growing vegetables for family and friends.
Paul loved his wife and family, and the high point of his summers was the Burdett Reunion, where generations of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins gathered for a day of food, fun and fellowship.
Paul is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Paul; grandsons, Eric, Forrest and Liam; three brothers, Joel D., Donald S. of Hornell, James (Anna) of Geneseo; one sister, Margaret Drake of Hornell; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Hobart and Douglas; and sister, Marianna. Calling hours are from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Oakland Wesleyan Church with funeral immediately following, Pastor Paul Palmer will officiate. Burial in Rural Cemetery in Hornell. Memorial donations may be made to the Oakland Wesleyan Church or the American Heart Association of Central New York, Utica. Arrangements are with the Mann Funeral Home, Nunda


Paul grew to adulthood on the small family farm on Bald Hill. He attended Elementary school at the one room schoolhouse of District #9 through the eighth grade. He attended High school at Alfred-Almond Central School. Attended Cornell University for one year before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1946, as soon as he reached the age of eighteen. Served in the Finance Dept. of the Air Corps until discharged in June 1949. At which time he married and moved back to Hornell, as Paul prepared to return to Cornell University to continue his education with the assistance of the G.I. Bill. After one semester and due to a very difficult pregancy that Betty was experiencing, they decided to return to Bowie,TX, where Betty's mother was a nurse in the Bowie Hospital. Paul went to work for Betty's uncle G.W. Menasco in the Roofing and Construction business covering northeastern Texas and southern Oklahoma. Later Paul worked for a few months in grocery stores in Wichita Falls,TX until the family moved back to Hornell,NY, where Paul was offered a job with the New York State Electric and Gas Corp. to start on February 1, 1951. They lived with Paul's mother and father for a short time until they could rent a small apartment in Almond,NY. Their landlord in Almond was Mr. and Mrs "Tinker" Burdick, a wonderful older couple who doted over Paul Jr. and did many things to make life easier for the family. In May 1952 Paul was promoted to a position which required them to move to Plattsburg,NY. From there they moved for the company to Chatham, Binghamton, Plattsburg, and finally to Oneonta,NY. Paul retired from NYSEG on April 12, 1988 after serving in several management positions.
After retirement Paul helped form the Executive Service Corps of Otsego and Delaware Counties. The purpose of which is to help not-for-profit agencies and small businesses with management problems which are hampering the success of the agency or business. During the course of his business career and since retiring Paul has served in many community service agencies either as a volunteer worker or member of the governing board. Some of the organizations he has served is the Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs, County Extension Services, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Hospital Board of Directors, United Way, Cancer Society, and the American Heart Assn.

Paul married Betty Jean Franklin on 26 Jun 1949 in Bowie, Montague County, Texas. Betty (daughter of Jesse James Franklin and Minnie Estelle George) was born on 26 Jun 1932 in Bowie, Montague County, Texas; died on 25 Feb 2025 in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 1974-1978; US Army

Notes:

Paul Jr. started school in Binghamton,NY and when he was ten years old his parents moved to Chatham,NY. When he was seventeen his parents moved back to Plattsburg,NY where he graduated from High School in 1968. He entered college at State University of New York at Plattsburg in 1968 and graduated in 1972. After graduation he married Sandra and moved to Wichita Falls,TX where he studied for his masters degree. He completed all his academic requirements for his masters degree in eleven months and accepted a fellowship to study for his Doctorate at Dalhousie University, in Halifax,Canada. Upon completing his academic work at Dalhousie he enlisted in the U.S. Army with the promise of a commission upon completing basic training. However, during basic training he fell on icy concrete steps and fractured a vertebrae which caused the Army to declare him physically unable to assume the duties of a commissioned officer. He was allowed to complete his enlistment period as an enlisted man, and then was discharged in 1978. Paul has since been teaching various English courses at the college of Staten Island, part of the City University of New York, with a short stint of work with AT&T and Wagner College.

Paul married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Paul married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Paul married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Paul married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]