James Alexander Burrill, born September 18, 1935, flew his last flight on May 11, 2025. Jim
made his living as a pilot, flying high in the sunlit clouds; his ashes will ride the breeze
forevermore.
Born in Burgessville, Ontario, Canada and raised on his family’s farm in North Norwich
Township, Oxford County Ontario, Jim was an accomplished young athlete, and a great
protector of his sister. He had dreamed of being a pilot from his earliest years, and as he
looked up from his field work in the 1940s and saw planes in the sky practicing war
maneuvers, he promised himself he would become a pilot.
Jim left the family farm in 1955 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he designed his
unit’s slogan, badge, and patch that read “Seek and Save,” which is still in use for the 103rd
squadron to this day. Jim was a Flight Lieutenant when he left the Air Force and had been in two squadrons, the 103rd Rescue and 102nd Transport.
After his service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Jim began flying for United Airlines in 1967 and retired from United as a Captain in 1995.
Jim enjoyed traveling around the world, his membership in the First Presbyterian Church in
Wooster, Ohio, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Secrest Arboretum, and spending time in the company of his family. Jim initiated the creation of the Memorial Garden at his church and spent many Sundays singing in the choir.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie and Cecil Burrill, brother Lawrence “Skip” Burrill, stepson Richard Blackledge Jr. and the mother of his four children, Melva Strong Burrill.
Jim is survived by wife Monica, siblings Agnes Burrill Little (Douglas), Graham (Anne) all of
Ontario Canada, his children Laureen Burrill Carpenter of Ashland Ohio, Deana Burrill Chupp (Stephen) of Denver, Colorado, Tracey Burrill (Thomas Hedemann) of Cheshire, Connecticut, Jeffrey Burrill (Julia Warnes) of Huron, Ohio, step children Amy Myers (Mitchell) of Cape Carteret, North Carolina , Michael Blackledge (Angelia) of Westerville, Ohio, and 14 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and wonderful friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 11:00 AM at First
Presbyterian Church 621 College Ave., Wooster with Pastor David Rice officiating.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
The family requests that In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s name to the music department at First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, —and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov ’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
“High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, RCAF