William J. Burse Jr

William J. Burse Jr., 63 of Canterbury, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2006 in Willimantic. He was born October 24, 1942 in Ridgewood, NJ, son of the late William J. Burse and the late Violet (Breckenridge) Burse. He married Florence Dials on December 18, 1965 at Westover AFB Chapel, Chicopee, MA. He served four years in the United States Air Force as a KC-135 Flight Simulator Specialist during the Vietnam War. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force he pursued his twenty five year career as a pilot accumulating 30,000 hours of flight time, flying into almost every major airport and country around the world with type ratings in all models of the Convair, piston as well as turbo, the Douglas DC-9, the Boeing 727, Douglas DC-8 and the Boeing 747. He also had experience flying the Douglas DC-3 and McDonnell-Douglas MD-80. During the Operation of Desert Shield/Desert Storm he flew missions in Asia and the Middle East for the Civilian Reserve Air Force receiving a Civilian Air Medal, an Aerial Achievement Medal and a Civilian Desert Shield/Desert Storm Medal. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and working on his chicken farm. In addition to his wife he is survived by two sons, John B. Burse and his wife Janie of St. Louis, MO, Michael J. Burse and his wife Amanda of Rumford, ME, two grandchildren, Mikayla Q. Burse and Catherine E. Burse; his brother, Kenneth G. Burse of Southington, several nieces, nephews and his English Setter, Lucy. A memorial service will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic. Burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the Canterbury Volunteer Fire Dept., P. O. Box 293, Canterbury, CT 06331. Please visit www.potterfh.com for directions and online memorial guestbook.