Dennis Albert Burford

Dennis Albert Burford

It is with great sadness that family and friends announce the passing of 59-year old Dennis A. Burford on October 15, 2014. He fought a courageous battle with an aggressive cancer diagnosed earlier this year.

Dennis was born in San Francisco before becoming a long-time resident of Woodland Hills, CA, where he graduated from Chaminade High School in 1973. While living in Southern California, he worked numerous years as a typewriter technician, then purchased his own typewriter repair business in Tarzana, CA. He later moved to Parker, CO, where he became an avid Denver Broncos fan before re-locating to the Placerville area.

Dennis met his wife, Henrietta Reason, on the way to a ski club meeting in 1984. They were married several years later at Jekyll Island, GA, where Henrietta grew up. They vacationed often at the beaches in Georgia and northern Florida and planned to retire on Amelia Island (FL) in a few years.

Dennis was a great husband to his wife and father to his two sons, whom he taught to be honest, trustworthy, self-reliant, and to strive for their best. His oldest son, Eric A. Burford, was born in 1990, and now attends California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, majoring in Architecture. His second son, Evan S. Burford, was born in 1993, and now attends the University of Nevada, Reno, majoring in Environmental Science. Dennis was very proud of his boys, their accomplishments, and the fine men they’ve become.

Dennis enjoyed water skiing, tennis, and bowling, but his love of the mountains, where he hiked, back-packed, and camped, was his true passion. His favorite sport was downhill skiing, and he spent most of the winter months on various Tahoe slopes. He also was a muscle and classic car enthusiast, working on and restoring several cars over the years. Dennis had a very mechanical mind and could build and fix anything and everything. He particularly liked working outdoors and over the last 20 years transformed his barren home site into a beautiful park-like setting with mature trees just recently changing into beautiful fall colors of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Dennis was employed by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) in Rancho Cordova for the last 11 years, with his current position as an IT Manager. He was a member of a wonderful group of friends and extended family at FTB and loved his job and co-workers, as well as those in his van pool.

As part of a large, close family with six children, Dennis is preceded in death by his father, Alvin Burford, and survived by his mother Martyna Jane Burford of Oceanside, CA; brothers James Burford and wife Terri, Phelan, CA; Mark Burford, and wife Tina, Valley Glen, CA; and sisters Sue Moore and husband John, Oceanside, CA; Maureen Burford, Moorpark, CA; and Monica Buehler and husband, A.J., Bend, Oregon. Dennis has numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He is survived by his doggie rescues: Abby, Lilly, Coco, Remi, and Mindy.

Dennis’s enthusiastic story-telling and wit will be forever remembered and missed by all those who knew him. To sign his guestbook go to chapelofthepinesfunerals.com.

Funeral services will be conducted at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7th, with a “celebration of life” to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, Dennis requested you hug your family and take them out to dinner. Life is short, but love is eternal. Peace be with you.