William B. Burnham; Retired Bus Driver

William B. Burnham, an Oxnard native and life-long city resident, died Friday at his home of Parkinson’s disease. He was 78.

He was born July 6, 1917, to Charles James Burnham and Minnie Gisler, a member of a pioneering Oxnard family.

Burnham graduated from Santa Clara High School in 1935, spent two years at Ventura College and another at the University of California, Davis. He served as a corporal in the Air Force during World War II.

Burnham worked as a truck driver for Budweiser and then as a bus driver for Oxnard Union High School, where he retired.

Burnham enjoyed gardening, camping, hiking and off-road motorcycle riding. In retirement, Burnham and his wife of 53 years, Halcie, traveled extensively to Europe, Australia, the South Pacific and Africa.

“I mostly remember our traveling, being outdoors together and hiking,” said his wife. “Even when he was quite ill we would hike as often as we could.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Jeanne Jones Black of Steinhatchee, Fla.; sons, Robert of Santa Barbara, Charles of Ventura and Richard A. of Seattle; a grandson and a sister Betty Burnham Roemer of Oxnard. He was preceded in death by a son, the Rev. James L. Burnham in 1978, and daughter Peggy Sue Burnham in 1957.

Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard, with a vigil service to follow. A Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony’s Church in Oxnard, with interment following at Santa Clara Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Livingston Memorial VNA Hospice Care or to Parkinson’s Disease research.

Erdman, Mabel J., 89, Thousand Oaks, retired homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.