Phillip Andrew Burnham, age 99, passed away January 19, 2016 at his home in Deseret, Utah surrounded by his loving family. Phil was born November 24, 1916 in Redmesa, Colorado to James Warren Burnham and Edith Adell Wheeler. He was raised during the depression and grew up learning how to save and reuse everything until it was completely worn out. Dad graduated from Durango High School and then attended business college in Grand Junction, Colorado. He married Thelma Agnes Bowman on August 8, 1956 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He lived in Grand Junction and eventually bought a farm in Fruita, Colorado. In 1995, he and Thelma sold the farm and moved to Deseret, Utah. Dad could fix, figure out, or build anything. He was an inventor and loved to tinker in his shop.
He was self-employed most of his life, doing contract farm work, welding, machinist, heavy equipment operator, sewing machine sales and repair, appliance repair, steel fabrication, US Forest Service reforesting contractor, farmer, truck gardener, and equipment engineer. He milked cows most of his life and sold milk and cream to friends and neighbors. He loved to use his talent for fixing things to help out neighbors and family.
Dad had an unwavering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and loved to serve in any calling he had. He and Mom served two missions for the LDS Church, one in Fiji for 2 years, and one in Singapore for 18 months. In their early marriage, they served together as stake missionaries for several years and helped many people. Dad also served as a Stake Mission counselor and president, in the Bishopric, early morning seminary teacher, MIA leader, Sunday School Superintendent, and Boy Scout leader. After they moved to Deseret hey served for many years as the 11 year old scout leader. The scouts always had a hard time keeping up with their 80 year old scout leader on hikes! He and Mom sang in the ward choir and Dad even sang with the Deseret/Oasis ward choir for this year’s Christmas Cantata. He never believed in retiring from church service and even though he wasn’t a ward missionary, he loved to reach out to those who didn’t have the gospel. Dad and Mom served as Manti temple workers until Mom passed away in October 2008. They loved the association with other temple workers and it brought them a lot of joy attending the temple once a week.
Dad will be remembered most for the unconditional love he had for everyone. He didn’t care what their background was and always thought the best of everyone. He determined early in life to never hold a grudge or have resentment for anyone, and if someone was angry with him he still continued to reach out to them and love them whether it be neighbors, co-workers, or family. Everyone could tell how much he loved them when they first met him.
Dad’s greatest joy was his family and posterity. He loved to brag about them and always said, “I have the most wonderful family.” He and Mom supported all the family events they could, making every baptism, wedding, reunion, they could manage even with great grandchildren. Having family come to visit brought the most joy, and they loved hosting family reunions at their farm in Fruita.
Dad is survived by his 6 children: Ilena Tomkinson (Don), Hurricane Utah; Carrol Whitehead (Duane), Salt Lake City; Anna Evans (Ken), Sandy; Cindy Finlinson (Jay), Oasis; Matt Burnham (Tacey), Logan; Wendy Burnham, Delta; 23 Grandchildren, 56 Great-Grandchildren, and 31 Great-Great-Grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Edward Burnham, living in Price, Utah. He is having a wonderful reunion with his sweetheart, Thelma Bowman Burnham; their infant son: Van Paul; and 5 sisters: Alta, Adell, Thelma, Pauline and Rita, and their spouses.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 23, at 1:00 pm, at the Deseret-Oasis Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held, 11:30-12:40, prior to the service. Interment will be in the Oak City Cemetery.