James B. Burris
James B. Burris
James B. Burris, 78, of New Castle, passed away peacefully at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Jameson Hospital, New Castle, with family at his side.
He was born February 26, 1933, in Waynesburg, a son of the late Charles J. and Alberta Geibel Burris.
Mr. Burris married the former Josephine Monica Sullivan of Bronx, N.Y., who survives.
He was an industrial engineer for LTV in Youngstown and industrial engineer and computer programmer for Thomas Steel Strip in Warren.
Mr. Burris was educated in Waynesburg and West Greene schools. He was a 1951 graduate of West Greene High School and a 1959 graduate of Waynesburg College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in geology.
He served in the U.S. Army with a top secret clearance from 1954 to 1957. He attended the Army Language School in Monterey, Calif., for 12 months and became proficient in the Russian language. He served as a military intelligence operative in Chitose, Wakkanai and Hokkaido, Japan, attaining the rank of Sp2 E-5.
Mr. Burris was a member of Mary Mother of Hope Parish in New Castle. He was a charter member of the National Army Security Agency Association and life member of Castlewood Rod and Gun Club and National Rifle Association. He also was a member of Cornerstone Genealogical Society in Waynesburg and had a lot of ancestry in the Mt. Morris area.
He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed deer hunting and a good day of fishing. He also built a lot of his own furniture, and he enjoyed working on his computer.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughters Mary Burris of New Castle and Anne Mariani of Portersville; a son, James B. Burris and wife Gina Frank Burris of Mason, Ohio; and four grandchildren.
Deceased is a brother, Charles J. Burris Jr.