Richard P. 'Dick' Burkinshaw Obituary (1947 - 2018)

FORMER OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF BLAKE FUNERAL HOME IN CHELMSFORD Richard P. "Dick" Burkinshaw, 70, a resident of Naples, FL and former longtime Chelmsford resident passed away peacefully at his home in Naples on Sunday morning March 4th, 2018. Dick was born in Lowell on September 30, 1947. He was the son of the late Cortlandt J. and Virginia (Scribner) Burkinshaw. He received a BS from Suffolk University, and later graduated from New England Institute of Funeral Directors and Embalming. For 35 years, Dick owned and operated Blake Funeral Home in Chelmsford until he retired to Naples, Florida in 2010. An avid golfer, Dick spent almost all of his free time golfing. He was a longtime member of Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro and of Quail Creek Country Club in Naples. He was a member of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Chelmsford. Dick's involvement in the community included serving as a former member and past President of the Chelmsford Police Foundation, Inc., former board member of the Chelmsford Business Association, former member of the Chelmsford Rotary Club, former member of the Board of Directors of the Paul Center, former member and past Vice-Chairman of the Chelmsford Historic District Commission, former member of the Lowell Cemetery Board of Trustees, and former Corporator for Lowell General Hospital. Dick was elected as a Corporator for the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank in 1976 and Director in 1979, serving in both capacities until 2011. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee for over thirty years providing guidance on the oversight of the bank. In 2005 Dick served as a founding member of the Lowell Five investment committee. Dick was a very kind and caring man who had a wonderful way of putting people at ease which was greatly appreciated by the countless families that he served over the years at the Blake Funeral Home. He will be missed by all who knew him, especially his dog, Buddy. Dick will be lovingly remembered by his sister; Barbara Allen and her husband Jim of Santa Barbara, CA, his nephew and niece; Silas Allen of Oakland, CA and Allison Allen of Santa Barbara, CA, and his cousins; Gail Scribner and Paul Scribner both of Chelmsford. Relatives and friends may call on Sunday from 4 to 6 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St. CHELMSFORD. A private family service will be held at Lowell Cemetery. For those who desire, expressions of sympathy in Dicks name may be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105. First Visitation March 11, 2018 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Interment Location Lowell Cemetery 77 Knapp Avenue Lowell, MA 01852 PRIVATE