William Dighton Burdick 1893-1971
"The Milton Courier", Milton Wisconsin, Thursday, Mar. 25, 1971, p 1.
Prof. William D. Burdick, 78, Milton's foremost civic leader, died unexpectedly Sunday, March 21 in Mercy Hospital, Janesville, where he had been admitted on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack in his home at 533 E. High Street.
"Prof." Bill, as he was known by several generations of residents and college students, was at the time of his death city assessor, the sixth office he had held in village government.
Prof. Burdick was Milton village president from 1949-1955 after serving 19 years as a village trustee. He had served as village clerk, village treasurer and as a member of the first joint sanitation commission.
The son of Rev. Willard D. and Genette West Burdick was born in Milton Junction Jan. 17, 1893. He attended school in Farina, Ill. before entering Milton College where he received his B. A. in 1915. He received his masters degree in 1926 from the University of Wisconsin. He served as professor of chemistry at Milton College from 1919 until his retirement in 1963 and had also served as acting president, business manager, department head and member of the board of trustees. He earned the Pillar of Milton award in 1962 from the Milton Alumni Association.
In the business world, he was director and assistant secretary-treasurer of the Milton Savings and Loan Association. He served the Milton Post Office as a part time clerk and operated a small apple orchard at his home as a hobby.
He had been an active church member throughout his life and had held many lay posts in the Seventh Day Baptist Church. At the time of his death he was the treasurer.
He was married to Erna L. Dudey in Hartland, Wis. and they had lived their entire life in Milton. The couple observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 1970. He was a World War I veteran, serving as a 2nd Lt. in the field artillery.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Dr. William L. Burdick, Kalamazoo, Michigan; a daughter Miss Ida Jean Burdick, Milwaukee; two grandchildren; one brother, Russell and a sister Miss Marjorie Burdick, both of Milton.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, from the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church, the Rev. Earl Cruzan officiating. Burial was in the Milton Cemetery.

Erna L. (Dudley) Burdick 1898-1983
"The Milton Courier", Milton Wisconsin, Thursday, Mar. 24, 1983, p 24.
Mrs. Erna L. Burdick, 84, died Monday, Mar. 21, at the Janesville Health Care Center, where she had resided since August, 1981.
She was born Aug. 18, 1898, in Hartland, the daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina Wein Dudley. She graduated from Hartland High school in 1917 and married Professor William D. Burdick June, 1920, in Hartland.
The couple resided in Milton most of their married life. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1970. Her husband preceded her in death on March 21, 1971.
She was one of Milton's first 4-H leaders, an active member of the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church, the Milton Woman's Club, the Church Women's Circle, and the Milton Historical Society. She was also very active at Milton College, where her husband served as professor for many years.
Survivors include one son, Dr. William L. Burdick of Kalamazoo, Mich.; one daughter, Ida Jean Burdick of Milwaukee; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Russell and Dora Burdick of Milton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church at 2 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 24, following cremation. There will be no visitation. Albrecht Funeral Home-Milton was in charge of local arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church.