Burnham A. “Burnie” Langley, 87, of the Bradford section of Haverhill, died Wednesday, March 2, following a long illness, at Penacook Place, surrounded by his family.
Born in Haverhill, son of the late Morris and Beatrice (Alby) Langley, he was raised and educated in Groveland, graduating from Groveland High School. He proudly served as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force, during the Korean Conflict. He was employed first at Western Electric and later as an aeronautical instructor by Wentworth Institute of Technology until his retirement in 1990. Langley maintained a lifelong love of flying and held a private pilot’s license for many years. A member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, he built and maintained his own airplane, which he flew out of the Lawrence Airport. He also enjoyed singing and playing the piano.
Langley leaves his wife of 40 years, Claire L. (Doucette) Langley; son Joseph Amirault of Ohio; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynne M. and Glen Whitt of Plano, Texas, and Jayne C. and Kevin O’Brien of Haverhill; grandchildren, Hunter, Michael, Patrick, Meaghan and Lauren; nieces, Lois Johnston, Linda Tilden, Jeanne Fraser, Joan Halkiotis, Karen Hopkins, Esther Meuse, Susan Collins and Lisa Holst; and a sister-in-law Elaine M. Woodburn of Bradford. He was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth “Betty” and Clarence Goudreault, his niece Nancy Goudreault, and his brother-in-law William Woodburn.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Life Celebration Monday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway Haverhill. His funeral service will follow at 12:15 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial with military honors follows at Walnut Cemetery, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made to the Employee Fund of Penacook Place, 150 Water St., Haverhill.