TORRINGTON – Grave side memorial services for Burmah L. Thorp, 103, will be 1 p.m. Friday, May 3, 2019, at Valley View Cemetery with Pastor Michael Gleb officiating. Burmah passed away on Sunday evening, Jan. 26, 2019, in her home at the Goshen Care Center. The Colyer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Burmah was born Oct. 11, 1915, in Beatrice, Neb., the daughter of Ora and Bessie (McVicker) Long. She was the oldest of five children with one older step-brother. Burmah, being the oldest child of the family, helped with the raising of her siblings. She often spoke of helping with the washing, the ironing, changing diapers and household chores. She helped her dad with the garden, especially the tomatoes. They often had more than 100 plants they would sell fruit to help get them through the Depression Era. Burmah often spoke of eating canned tomatoes for each meal during the winter seasons. She loved her parents greatly and spoke very highly of the way they raised their children.
Burmah married Lewis Meyer on March 5, 1934, in Beatrice and together they farmed. They had one child, Betty Joan (Meyer) Hunter. She and Lewis later divorced. As she continued to live in Beatrice she worked in several defense plants during World War II.
On Aug. 23, 1948, she married James R. Pittman. They moved to Torrington in 1951 and Burmah was a homemaker and bookkeeper for their construction business. Here he built her a home east of Torrington that Burmah loved. They moved back to Beatrice in 1955. James passed away in 1969.
After the death of her husband she moved to Denver, Colo., to live with her brother, Howard. She worked for Colorado Petroleum as a bookkeeper and it is here where she met and married Robert Thorp. They were married Jan. 21, 1972. Robert and Burmah enjoyed their lives in Denver and on the weekends, they would spend their time in the mountains. Robert passed away two years later in 1974, after which Burmah retired and moved back to Torrington to be closer to her daughter Betty.
Burmah enjoyed raising flowers, especially roses. She enjoyed crocheting, reworking house plans and did all the finish work in her home. She enjoyed playing guitar and reading, especially her Bible, until her eyesight began to fail her, then she enjoyed listening to her Bible on CD. Burmah loved the Lord with all of her heart. She received Christ as her savior as a young lady in a Baptist Church in Beatrice. She taught Sunday school for many years and would encourage her students to memorize scripture and then would reward them with a new Bible.
Burma is survived by her daughter Betty Joan Hunter of Torrington; four grandchildren Allen (Debbie) Hunter of Torrington, David (Tommy) Hunter of Torrington, Rhonda (Rufus) Barajas of Denver and Gary (Tammy) Hunter of Torrington; 16 great-grandchildren; a step daughter-in-law Marlene Pittman of Nebraska; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Myrtle Smith, Samantha Johnson and Betty Haddad; a brother, Howard Long; and a half-brother, Robert Long. Burmah will be remembered lovingly by her family and friends.
