Robert G. Burford

Greensburg

Robert G. Burford, 54, of Greensburg, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006, at home, after a courageous five-year battle against liver disease. Born Sept. 5, 1951, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Charles J. and Jean Lingelbaugh Burford. He was a former employee of FireDEX of Pittsburgh, where he worked as a senior estimator. Bob was an active member in the community and instrumental in the development of the West Point Little League. He coached and managed baseball teams for over 10 years and was recently honored by the WPLL Board with the naming of a field in his honor, recognizing his many contributions to the league. Bob also coached and managed the West Point American Legion baseball team. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America for many years with his sons. He was a member of many professional organizations related to the insurance industry and served as a vice president of the Pennsylvania Claims Association. Bob was an avid downhill skier, a member and former officer of the Shenandoah Ski Club. He was a motorcycle enthusiast and a member of the Latrobe Harley Owners Group. His love for riding took him on trips all over the country. He was also a charter member of the Mountain View Inn Bocce League and co-champion with partner Mark Morelli. He was a member of Charter Oak United Methodist Church and former member of Ingomar United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Nancy L. Gurto Burford; two sons, Daniel Jackson Burford, of Columbia, S.C., and David Vincent Burford, a student at West Virginia University; two sisters, Barbara Austen and husband, Thomas, of Sigel, Pa., and Lynn Henry and husband, Michael, of Pittsburgh; in-laws, James and Elizabeth Gurto, of Wexford; two sisters-in-law, Janice White and husband, David, of Dallas, Texas, and Patricia Kolling and husband, Joseph, of Pittsburgh; numerous nieces; and a nephew. He will be remembered for his love of life, sense of humor and generous spirit. Family and friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Mountain View Inn, Route 30 East, in the Hunt Room. A memorial service will be held in celebration of Bob’s life at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ingomar United Methodist Church, 1501 W. Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, with Dr. Duane Morford and Dr. David Eversdyke co-officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family to offset medical expenses or to the UPMC/Starzl Transplantation Institute, Medical Arts Building, Suite 400, 3708 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3405, in memory of Bob. Arrangements by the CLEMENT L. PANTALONE FUNERAL HOME INC., 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg