June 20, 1916 - Sept. 1, 2008

MONTROSE, Calif. -- Eldon Thomas Burgess, 92, of Montrose, Calif., died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, of natural causes.

He was born June 20, 1916, in Bellevue, Ohio, to George and Maud Tompkins Burgess. He married the former Geraldine Swanson of Clyde in 1940.

He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1934 and attended Ohio Northern University. Before moving to California in 1956, he was the general traffic superintendent for the former Northern Ohio Telephone Co. He served as the chairman of both the Ohio Independent Telephone Association Traffic Committee and the United States Independent Telephone Association Traffic Committee. While living in Bellevue, Eldon was active in many community activities and was the choir director for the former Evangelical and Reformed Church, where he also served on many committees.

He retired from General Telephone Company of California in 1976, where he was intercompany relations manager.

He is survived by Gerry, his wife of 68 years, in Montrose; a daughter, Margot Curtis Simpson, La Canada, Calif.; four grandchildren, Brian Allen, Phoenix, Ariz., Kacie Curtis Kendall, Coto de Caza, Calif., Sean Allen, Carmel Valley, Calif., and Cynthia Curtis Dean, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and six great-granddaughters, Kathryn and Noelle Kendall, Brooklyn and Ramsey Dean, and Isabella and Savannah Allen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Deborah Allen Smith; and a brother, Gordon Burgess.

Funeral services and burial were at Grandview Cemetery, Glendale, Calif.

Memorial donations may be made to Vitas Hospice Care, 16830 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 315, Encino, CA 91436.