Final Salute

Frank R. ‘Dick’ Burford, Sr., a Navy Seabee and Veteran of the Korean War, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at the age of 92. He was the beloved husband of Elena C. (Rainone) Burford to whom he shared 64 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2019. Born in Inglewood, CA, he was a son of the late Hal H. and Bessie E. (Snapp) Burford.

In his younger years, Dick and his family traveled extensively throughout the United States. He attended school in Minnesota and lived for a period of time in Alaska. Shortly after his high school graduation, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly his country as a SEABEE during the Korean War. It was during his time in the Navy that he met his future wife, Elena, at the USO located on the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. They were married upon his Naval discharge and settled in Warwick to raise their family. Dick was an avid reader and enjoyed his daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles. His quick wit and sense of humor will be missed by all those who had the privilege to know and love him.

He was the devoted father of Steven A. Burford (husband, John Scharfenberg) and the late Frank R. Burford, Jr.; father-in-law of Nancy Burford; ‘Grampa’ of Cathryn Ann Burford; great-grandfather of Madison and William Burke. He was the brother of the late Fred Burford, Jo Diane Burford and Carol Lee Gilliard and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held at 9am on Monday, March 17, 2025, from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave., Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Lane, Warwick. He will be laid to rest along side his wife in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours are Sunday, March 16 from 4-7pm in the Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frank, please visit our floral store.