Obituary of R. Norman Burnfield

R. Norman Burnfield, 81, of Lewiston, NY, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 peacefully at home after a lengthy illness. Born in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada on August 23, 1932 to the late Clifford Robert Burnfield and Daisy Ruth McCoy. He graduated from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario in 1957 with a Bachelors Degree in Engineering Physics, where he met his future wife, Leta Anne Wells, whom he married on May 9, 1956. He worked at Canadian Arsenals in Montreal, then joined Bell Aircraft (later Bell Aerospace) in 1959. While at Bell Aerospace, he was Program Manager for the Gravity Meter Program, where he was granted a patent for a related invention. He also worked on the accelerometer program at Bell. After retiring from Bell in 1990, he completed a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at Niagara University. Norm was an avid golfer and member of the Niagara Frontier Country Club, and particularly enjoyed his annual week golfing with friends in Florida during winter. He volunteered as an AARP Tax Aide for 20 years, assisting seniors with tax preparation. He was past president of the One-Three Club and really enjoyed Friday lunches with One-Three friends as well as Saturday breakfasts with golf buddies. Norm was a clever man with a quick sense of humor. He cared deeply about his family. He and Leta enjoyed traveling, visiting many overseas countries over the years. Father of Robert (Ottawa, Ontario), William (Harry Wiebe - Toronto) and Judith (Lincoln, Nebraska) and six grandchildren, Evan, Piers, Jotham, Anna and Wells Burnfield-Wiebe (Toronto, Ontario) and Ethan Wells Burnfield (Lincoln, Nebraska). He will be deeply missed. Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, N. Fourth and Ridge Sts., Lewiston, on Saturday, January 25, from 2 to 4 pm. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 26, at 3 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, 505 Cayuga St., Lewiston with a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, kindly send contributions to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240-9856 or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13270-3049.