Francis Eugene Burdick

Beloved father, grandfather and friend, Francis (Frank) Eugene Burdick, at age 96, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Frank Eugene Burdick, Sr. and Mary Phoebe Blanchard, Frank had developed an early interest in all things automotive from his then garage foreman father. His mother was kept on her toes raising Frank, the middle child, and his siblings, who Frank loved to menace, Betty (eldest) and George (youngest).

Always a restless soul, at 18 years old, Frank left his family home to see the world and put his mechanical skills to the test. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1945, during WWII, and was stationed in the Philippines as a Motor Machinist Mate. He was put in charge of the station motor pool where he found his first true love…jeeps. Even though some of the Generals didn’t have jeeps, Frank always managed to have one. He also worked it out so he could “sleep with the jeeps,” rather than in the bunks.

When the war ended, Frank headed off to California. During the summer of 1954, Frank married Leona Patricia (Pat) Meddaugh and together they raised four children Deborah Cranswick, Randall (Carol) Burdick, Valerie (Doug) McCowan, and Rebecca (Chris) Saunders in the then rural town of Diamond Bar, California. Frank shared with his children and grandchildren the gift of the great outdoors through engaging them in camping, off-roading, horseback riding, hunting, private piloting, and boating trips. Frank taught his kids off-road driving (aka wheelin’, jeepin’) at an early age; he threw the jeep into low gear and let them loose on the dry lakebeds of the California desert. Throughout his life, Frank generously shared his knowledge and many young (and sometimes old!) folks learned how to maintain a car, work on engines, and “drive like a wheeler”.

Frank moved to Pueblo, Colorado where he made lifelong friends, rode his horses, developed land, and became part owner/operator of a local ski resort. Whether he was jeepin’ in Mexico, fishing in Alaska, flying a small plane from California to Europe, or buying a trainer fighter plane in China, Frank continued to pursue his interests and hobbies with vigor. Frank worked as a manager for a national building maintenance company and eventually started his own building maintenance business among his many entrepreneurial pursuits.

At the young and healthy age of 78, Frank finally settled in Gilbert, AZ, where he lived for next 18 years surrounded by his family. Here, he engaged his family and friends in his adventures, making many memories together camping, fishing, off-roading, piloting small planes, playing board and card games, and building/rebuilding jeeps. This became a way of life for those fortunate enough to be part of Frank’s life.

All who knew Frank loved him, whether they knew him as a loving father, an active and engaging grandfather, or a devoted friend.

A private memorial service will be held according to Frank’s wishes.

Loved ones are welcome to visit Frank’s Final Resting Place at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona where his urn is placed:

23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona

Section 69, Site 387

If you would like to make a memorial donation, we suggest the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at support.nmcrs.org. Acknowledgements can be sent to Valerie McCowan at [email protected].

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the Burdick family.