Burns Gardner "B. G." Corliss
back

print this page

Burns Gardner "B. G." Corliss
American Flag

Burns Gardner "B. G." Corliss, 97, of Rimersburg, PA, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Clarview Nursing Home in Sligo.

He was born June 21, 1916 in Elmira, NY, the son of Earl G. and Thressa Burns Corliss.

B. G. received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the former Indiana State Teachers College and did graduate work at Penn State University. He later earned his Master's from the University of Pittsburgh and taught at Reynoldsville School from 1937 to 1942. During World War II, B .G. honorably served with US Navy Intelligence at Pearl Harbor, HI, as Assistant Operations Officer of Commander Service Forces of the Pacific. He retired from the US Navy with 22 years of service.

Upon returning home, B. G. taught at Reynoldsville School for one more year before becoming Supervising Principal at the Summerville School District for eight years. He was elected as the Superintendent of Union School District in 1954 and proudly served the staff and students until his retirement in 1974.

Always helping the community, B. G. helped form the Southern Clarion County Ambulance Service and served on its board for many years. He was active in building the Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library and was the first president of the Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Eccles-Lesher Trust Foundation.

B. G. was a member of the Rimersburg First United Methodist Church and served on the church's board for many years. He also held memberships with Masonic Lodge #526 of Reynoldsville, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association, was a life member of the Retired Military Officers Association, and a former member of the Rimersburg Community Club. B. G. will always be remembered for his dedication to making the community a better place and for his deep love for his family.

His memory will be cherished by his daughter, Karen Pollock and husband, Dennis, of Rimersburg; son, Carl G. Corliss and wife, Betsy, of Gainesville, FL; grandsons, Michael Pollock and Jeffrey L. Pollock and wife, Amy, all of Rimersburg; granddaughters, Sarah Hamilton and husband, Corey, of Lake Worth, FL, and Ashley Laqua and husband, Blake, of Fort Eustis, VA; and great-grandchildren, Brooke Pollock and fiancé, Brenton Shirey, and Brody Pollock, all of Rimersburg, and Jackson and Caden Hamilton, of Lake Worth, FL.

B. G. was preceded in death by his parents and loving wife of 64 years, Lorena M. (Bussard) Corliss, whom he married June 19, 1941 and who died December 2, 2005.

Relatives and friends may visit from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 758 Main Street, Rimersburg, PA.

Additional visitation will be from 10 AM until the time of funeral services at 11 AM at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, with the Rev. Dennis A. Fetter officiating. Full military honors will be presented at the funeral home by Rimersburg VFW Post #7132 and American Legion Post #454.

Burial will be in Rimersburg Cemetery, Rimersburg, PA.

Contributions can be made in B. G.'s honor to the Rimersburg First United Methodist Church, 399 Main St., Rimersburg, PA 16248 or Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library, PO Box 359, Rimersburg, PA 16248.

print this page
Burns Gardner "B. G." Corliss